Former Red Sox manager Terry Francona comes out of retirement to manage the Reds

After a year out of action, former Red Sox manager Terry Francona is coming out of retirement and joining the Cincinnati Reds.

It was announced late Thursday night that Francona had been hired, and the Reds officially announced the move on Friday. The two teams agreed on a three-year contract with a club option until 2028.

A three-time Manager of the Year, Francona has managed 23 seasons in the major leagues since 1997, including four years with the Philadelphia Phillies, eight years with the Red Sox and 11 years with the Cleveland Guardians. His greatest success came in Boston, where he led the Red Sox to two World Series championships – including the historic 2004 title that ended the club’s 86-year drought.

He currently sits second on the franchise’s career wins list with a record of 744-552, behind only Hall of Famer Joe Cronin, and his .574 winning percentage ranks him second among Red Sox managers with at least four seasons (Don Zimmer, .575).

After leaving the Red Sox, he became the winningest manager in Guardians franchise history, leading the franchise to within one game of its first World Series title since 1948 in 2016. Cleveland ultimately lost to the Chicago Cubs in seven games .

Francona retired from the game after the 2023 season for health reasons, but as a baseball fan, he now has the chance to get back to doing what he loves.

The 65-year-old also now has a chance to become the 13th manager in MLB history to reach 2,000 career wins. He is currently 1,950-1,672 in his career, trailing only Bruce Bochy (2,171) among active managers. All other eligible managers with more wins are enshrined in Cooperstown, with Bochy and Dusty Baker receiving induction once they become eligible.

Originally published: October 4, 2024 at 10:32 am