The Cincinnati Reds are set to hire Terry Francona as their new manager, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. Francona, who recently concluded an 11-year tenure with the Cleveland Guardians, stepped down after the 2023 season.
With a managerial career spanning 23 years, Francona previously managed the Boston Red Sox for eight seasons and the Philadelphia Phillies for four. Notably, he also played for the Reds during the 1987 season.
The Reds made headlines by unexpectedly firing David Bell on September 22, just 14 months after he signed a three-year extension through 2026. Under Bell’s leadership, the team finished the 2024 season with a 77-85 record, amassing a total of 409 wins and 456 losses over six seasons, which included a postseason appearance in 2020.
Since their playoff appearances in 2010 to 2013, the Reds have struggled, holding the fourth-worst record in Major League Baseball at 753-927. The only teams faring worse are the Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, and Colorado Rockies.
However, there’s optimism for the Reds to make a playoff push soon. Young stars like Elly De La Cruz, who had 71 extra-base hits and led MLB with 67 stolen bases this season, and ace Hunter Greene, who posted a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts, provide a solid foundation. Additionally, top prospect Rhett Lowder shone with a 1.12 ERA in six late-season starts after being promoted from Triple-A, while Chase Burns, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 MLB draft, could make a quick ascent through the minors and reach Cincinnati next year.
While the front office has work to do to support this core group, Francona will inherit a promising roster to build around.
Throughout his managerial career, Terry Francona compiled a 1,950-1,672 record, highlighted by breaking an 86-year championship drought with the Red Sox, leading them to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. After joining the Guardians in 2013, he guided the team to an AL pennant in 2016. When he stepped away from MLB to prioritize his health in 2023, he left as the winningest manager in Guardians franchise history.
