Reds hire two-time World Series champion as manager
This story was updated to add new information
The Cincinnati Reds on Friday officially announced the hiring of Terry Francona, 65, as their new manager, one year and one day after Francona stepped away from the Cleveland Guardians for health reasons after a franchise-record run.
The three-time Manager of the Year, who guided two Boston Red Sox teams to world championships and the 2016 Indians to Game 7 of the World Series, joins the Reds on a three-year contract that includes a club option for 2028 after a whirlwind hiring process that was concluded just 11 days after his predecessor, David Bell, was fired.
‘Terry is a future Hall of Fame manager that has experience winning with young talent,’ Reds team president Nick Krall said in a statement. ‘I’m extremely excited that he wanted to be a Red, and he is the right person to take us towards our goal of winning a championship.’
rancona ranks 13th on the all-time list for wins as a manager with 1,950 in 23 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Red Sox and Indians/Guardians, including a Cleveland-record 921 in eight seasons.
All things Reds: Latest Cincinnati Reds news, schedule, roster, stats, injury updates and more.
‘Terry’s proven track record speaks for itself,’ Reds owner Bob Castellini said in a statement.
Francona has won 90 games as a manager 12 times and taken his teams to the postseason 11 times, compiling a .538 regular-season winning percentage and .564 in the postseason (44-34).
‘I am so excited and honored to join an organization with the tradition and history of the Cincinnati Reds,’ Francona said in a statement released by the team. ‘I only played one season for the Reds in 1987, but in that season I learned that Cincinnati is a great baseball city.’
He takes over a young and talented team that regressed to a mistake-prone, losing season in 2024 after a surprising run into contention in 2023. The core includes first-time, 2024 All-Stars Hunter Greene at the top of the pitching staff and dynamic shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
‘I can’t wait to start meeting and interacting with these good young players of ours,’ Francona said.
