A report this week out of Florida said that the Red Sox had decided to pick up manager Terry Francona‘s contract option, thereby keeping him in Boston through 2013. On Wednesday, though, the skipper was in denial mode.
Calling in to WEEI’s final airing of “The Dale and Holley Show” to give host Dale Arnold his best wishes, Francona was introduced as the recently extended manager of the Boston Red Sox.
“It’s not true. I don’t know how that started. That’s just one of those media things that kind of gets a life of its own,” Francona said. “I’ve heard worse things, but there’s not much to that.”
The skipper signed a contract in 2008, and he said he’s comfortable with his current situation.
“I have an option that the ballclub has the right to pick up or not pick up at the end of the year,” he said on the show. “I’m real comfortable with that. … I’m sure the story will keep getting on. It doesn’t matter if it’s true or not. That never stops something from having legs.”
Earlier Wednesday, Francona was asked about his contract status by reporters at Sox camp.
“Let it go. …There’s nothing to that,” he said, according to NESN.com’s Tony Lee.
The original report, made by Sports Illustrated’s Jon Heyman, did say that Francona was unaware of any decisions regarding his contract.
