Why Ex-Red Sox Manager Terry Francona Made MLB Comeback

When Terry Francona stepped down as Cleveland Guardians manager after 11 seasons, it seemed like the former Boston Red Sox skipper would ride his scooter into the sunset. Instead, the two-time World Series champion is back with the Reds.

Cincinnati introduced Francona as its next manager, and the 65-year-old will look to bring the franchise back to glory — the Reds haven’t made the postseason since 2020 and haven’t reached the National League Championship Series since 1995.

However, the question on everyone’s mind was, “Why come back?” The Guardians had a down season in 2023, but Francona was nowhere near the worst manager in baseball. His decision to step down made sense due to his health, but the year away from MLB seemed to benefit the skipper.

“I had a year away from the game where I had a chance to lead a normal life and got healthy,” Francona told The Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnessy on Wednesday night. “I watched more baseball than I have in a long time, but I didn’t really have a yearning like I had to come back and manage.”

Francona will be welcomed by a passionate fan base and a club with intriguing pieces. It might have been why the Reds’ pitch to him convinced him to return.

“They came out to Tucson and sat in my house and really blew me away,” Francona said. “I got caught up in it. An hour into the interview, I was saying stuff about them and saying ‘we.’ It just felt right. The more we talked, the more excited I got.

“I still get real nervous about my health, but I think this is real.”

Fans also share those same fears about Francona’s health, but he’s always a welcome sight in the dugout, and it will make Boston’s series against Cincinnati at Fenway Park even more special in the 2025 season.