The head coach of the Cleveland Guardians has a disagreement with one of his players; if he is not fired, I will step down.
I will step down if the Cleveland Guardians head coach is not removed due to a disagreement with one of his players.
The Cleveland Guardians‘ 11-year tenure under Terry Francona’s management is over.
Francona did not use the term “retire” in his remarks to reporters on Tuesday, but he did say he’s stepping down and does not envision himself managing again.
For a few weeks now, there has been discussion over Francona’s future after the 2023 campaign. Speaking to the media prior to a game on August 22 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he made a strong indication that he would be retiring:
Following Francona’s remarks, Chris Antonetti, the president of baseball operations for Cleveland, told MLB.com’s Mandy Bell that he wasn’t shocked by what Francona said, given how often they discuss the 64-year-old’s mental state.
Additionally, according to Antonetti, the team’s wish is “that we wanted Tito [to] manage here and manage here as long as he’s able to and it doesn’t conflict with his overall well-being and happiness,” thus there are no set preparations in place for when Francona decides to leave.
When the Guardians honored Francona before and after their final home game against the Cincinnati Reds on September 27, it was all but apparent that Francona would be leaving at the conclusion of the season.
In recent years, Francona has faced a number of health problems that have limited his availability.
In October 2020, Tito disclosed that at one point during the season, he underwent three surgeries in a span of four days. His first surgery was for a gastrointestinal problem, but after getting blood clots, he needed more procedures.
Because Francona was having difficulty recovering from a staph infection that necessitated surgery prior to the start of the season, the Guardians announced in July 2021 that Francona would be missing the remainder of the season.
With a 92-70 record, Francona oversaw the entirety of the 2022 campaign and guided the Guardians to unexpected postseason participation. Prior to falling to the New York Yankees in five games in the ALDS, they won the AL Central and overcame the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Round.
As of the 2023 season, Francona held the record for the longest tenure as an MLB manager. The Guardians hired him in October 2012, and he quickly made a significant difference in their situation.
Francona has managed three different teams for a total of 23 years. Before relocating to Cleveland, he was employed by the Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies.
Under Francona’s leadership, the Red Sox captured two World Series titles. Most notably, during their historic 2004 postseason run, they overcame a 3-0 series deficit to upset the New York Yankees in the ALCS, making MLB history.
Under Francona, Cleveland won the World Series in 2016 and led the Chicago Cubs in the series 3-1 before dropping the final three games.
