When Terry Francona announced that he was stepping down as manager of the Cleveland Guardians following the 2023 season after 11 years, the move made sense.
Francona had managed the team for a while and had dealt with health issues, and at 64, he seemed ready to step back and enjoy the next phase of his life.
That's why it came as a shock when reports surfaced last week that the Cincinnati Reds were naming Francona their next manager.
During his introductory press conference, Francona, who led the Boston Red Sox to two World Series wins in his eight seasons, explained why he stepped away and why he returned.
"I, honestly, didn't see myself managing again," Francona said. "I had a really good year away from the game. I needed to step away. I didn't step away because I didn't love the game. I stepped away because I didn't think I was doing the job up to the caliber I thought was necessary. Part of it was health, a lot of it was health, and it was getting in the way.
"As a manager, when you start becoming short, losing patience, it's not healthy. I didn't want to short-change the organization. So, when I stepped away, I didn't think about managing a whole lot this year.
"Then, when the Reds reached out, I started looking at the team a little more closely. They came out to visit, and it just felt right. And, it felt right pretty close to the beginning of the meeting. We probably talked for five hours. My palms were sweating. I started feeling like I wanted to put my uniform on. It just felt right."
Francona currently has the second-most wins in Red Sox history and the most in Guardians history. Now, he'll have a chance to make a name for himself again in Cincinnati nearly 40 years after playing for the team.
Baseball is better with Francona around.
MORE RED SOX NEWS
Grading Red Sox outfielders after 2024 season
Xander Bogaerts shuts down David Ortiz-Shohei Ohtani comparison
Boston’s president gives list of team’s needs for the offseason
Former Red Sox 1B sets franchise record with new team
