Terry Francona wanted a while away from baseball. A 12 months was lengthy sufficient.

Certainly one of baseball’s most beloved managers, Francona has been employed by the Cincinnati Reds, returning to a group he performed for after stepping down in Cleveland following final season due to well being causes.

An individual aware of the scenario confirmed the transfer to The Related Press on Thursday night time on situation of anonymity as a result of the Reds had not introduced the choice. An announcement may come later this week.

Francona, who gained two World Sequence titles with the Boston Crimson Sox, is changing David Bell, fired by the Reds final month within the closing days of his sixth season. Bell went 409-456 throughout his tenure.

Francona, who turns 66 in April, performed as an outfielder for Cincinnati in 1987. He hit .227 with three homers and 12 RBIs in 102 video games.

It’s simple to see the enchantment of the scenario for each Francona and Cincinnati. The Reds went 77-85 this 12 months, however they’ve one of many recreation’s most dynamic gamers in Elly De La Cruz and a probably deep rotation — fronted by Hunter Greene.

Francona helped All-Star third baseman José Ramírez change into one in all baseball’s finest all-around gamers in Cleveland, and he should not have any downside commanding the eye of Cincinnati’s younger roster.

After leaving the Guardians, Francona, a three-time AL Supervisor of the Yr, frolicked at his new house in Arizona and largely saved a low profile apart from attending basketball video games at his alma mater in Tucson. He returned to Cleveland briefly in the course of the summer season to assist launch a brand new restaurant during which he has an possession stake.

Francona has a 1,950-1,672 report in 23 years as a big-league supervisor with Philadelphia (1997-2000), the Crimson Sox (2004-2011) and Guardians (2013-2023).

He was slowed by severe medical points in his closing years in Cleveland, however stayed away from calling his departure a retirement.

“I by no means was actual involved in regards to the phrase retire,” he mentioned final 12 months. “I suppose if you say retire, it’s like, nicely, you’re going house and never doing something. Don’t really feel that means both. We’ll determine one thing out that is sensible.”

He discovered that one thing on the opposite facet of Ohio.

With 1,950 wins, he’s thirteenth on the profession record, sandwiched by Casey Stengel (1,905) and Leo Durocher (2,008), two different colourful managers who like Francona endeared themselves to followers and gamers.

Francona’s rise as one of many recreation’s finest managers was considerably surprising.

Issues didn’t go significantly nicely for him in Philadelphia, the place he had 4 straight dropping seasons, acquired continuously booed in a demanding, sports-crazed metropolis and had the tires on his automobile slashed on fan appreciation day.

He was an unlikely selection for Boston’s job, however instantly claimed legendary standing by profitable the World Sequence in his first season.

The Crimson Sox overcame a 3-0 deficit within the AL Championship Sequence and swept St. Louis to finish an 86-year championship drought and exorcise the “Curse of the Bambino,” a perceived hex on the group after Babe Ruth was bought to the rival New York Yankees.

When his tenure in Boston resulted in 2011 amid some controversy, Francona took a 12 months off and labored in broadcasting earlier than going to Cleveland, the place his dad, Tito, spent six seasons and he himself performed 62 video games in 1988.

Francona took Cleveland to the playoffs seven instances in his 11 seasons and gained 921 video games. The Guardians, then generally known as the Indians, made it to the World Sequence in 2016 solely to lose to the Chicago Cubs in a seven-game sequence.

Generally known as Tito, Francona turned widespread in Cleveland along with his fast wit and affable character. He rode a scooter from his downtown condominium to the ballpark every day, typically waving to followers alongside his kind route.

Francona may have taken jobs elsewhere however felt a deep reference to Cleveland’s group after his dad performed for the Indians within the late Fifties and early 60s. He was pressured to take two prolonged leaves of absence with Cleveland in 2020 whereas coping with coronary heart and gastrointestinal points.

For his closing recreation with the Guardians on Sept. 27 final season, the membership handed out “Thanks Tito” T-shirts to followers at Progressive Subject and the Guardians despatched him out in fashion with a 4-3 win —- over the Reds.

Afterward, Francona mentioned he wanted a break.

“I simply assume the timing is nice,” he mentioned. “I’m simply sort of beat up bodily, and it’s laborious to do that job proper or the best way I wish to do it. I don’t wish to shortchange anyone. I don’t wish to overstay my welcome.”

His hiring by the Reds additionally coincides with the Guardians ending with the AL’s second-best report underneath first-year supervisor Stephen Vogt, who had the troublesome job of attempting to interchange a Cleveland icon.

The Guardians open the AL Division Sequence in opposition to Detroit on Saturday.

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AP Baseball Author Jay Cohen in Chicago contributed to this report.

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