JUST IN: Terry Francona drops truth bomb on Guardians departure

After 11 seasons with the Cleveland Guardians, Terry Francona stepped down as manager following the 2023 season. Now with the Cincinnati Reds, he has opened up about the reasoning behind his decision.

Health concerns played a major role, as previously reported, but Francona now confirms there was no bad blood between him and the Guardians or the game itself. Speaking with Jayson Stark of The Athletic, he reflected on his time away from baseball:

“I had a nice year being away from the game, it was good for me,” Francona said. “When you fess up that you need to be away, you’re probably a little late on pulling the trigger.”

“I didn’t leave because I was mad or I hated the game. I just didn’t feel like I was doing my job right. I worked hard this past year to try and be in a position where I can do it,” he continued. “I know when the season starts, it’ll be a test. But it just feels good to be excited. I didn’t want to just jump into something I wasn’t going to be comfortable with. Even on good days, this can be a hard job.”

Francona’s final season in Cleveland ended with a 76-86 record, marking the second time in three years the Guardians missed the playoffs. At that point, he knew it was time to step away and reassess his future. He left Cleveland with an impressive 921-757 record, six playoff appearances, and an AL pennant in 2016.

After a year off, Francona is ready to return, taking over a Reds team eager to end its postseason drought dating back to 2020. With a roster filled with young talent, Cincinnati hopes Francona’s 1,950 career wins, three Manager of the Year awards, and two World Series titles will be the missing piece.

As for Cleveland, Francona holds no grudges. He looks back on his time with the Guardians fondly—it was simply time for a reset.