It appears that the Cincinnati Reds began pursuing Terry Francona shortly after the managerial position became available, and he stayed at the top of their list of 100 candidates from start to finish.
After making significant progress in 2023 by winning 82 games following a 100-loss season, there was a lot of optimism about the Reds’ potential for 2024. Unfortunately, this year’s team struggled to stay around .500 and ultimately managed only 77 wins.
Nonetheless, the general consensus around MLB is that the Reds have a promising young core with substantial potential. This likely influenced the organization’s bold move to dismiss manager David Bell just days before the season ended. The decision appears to have paid off, as it allowed them to quickly secure his replacement last week.
On Friday, reports surfaced that the Cincinnati Reds intend to hire Terry Francona, former manager of the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians, as their new skipper. The news surprised many, as health concerns had led Francona to step down from his role with Cleveland in 2023. It also seems the Reds weren’t entirely confident they would be able to bring him on board.
Terry Francona record: 1,950-1,672
Cincinnati.com reporter Gordon Wittenmyer shared new insights into the franchise’s search for a new manager. According to the report, the process began with a list of 100 candidates, compiled by team president Nick Krall and general manager Brad Meador after Bell’s departure. From the very beginning, Francona was at the top of their list.
Krall is said to have contacted Francona early in the process, initially receiving a lukewarm response. However, Krall and Meador still conducted a thorough review of Francona’s background and soon recognized that he was their top choice, even with other skilled candidates like former Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker available.
“We realized that as we conducted our work in Chicago, not only was he at the top of our list, but he had truly distinguished himself,” Meador said to the outlet. “We believed that if he was willing to meet with us, we needed to go out to his home in Tucson, Arizona.”
Freddie Benavides had a serious chance at becoming Cincinnati Reds full-time manager
In just four days, he transitioned from a top candidate to the sole choice. By the fifth day, they had reached an agreement to appoint him as the franchise’s 65th manager. Wittenmyer noted that the enthusiastic endorsements from the Cleveland Guardians—where Francona was still technically employed—significantly influenced their decision-making. It wasn’t long before they received permission to speak with the two-time World Series champion.
“Potential candidates such as former Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, former Cubs manager David Ross, and Rangers’ coaching staff member Will Venable were still in consideration,” Wittenmyer reported. Additionally, the organization was impressed by a series of interviews with interim manager Freddie Benavides.
Ultimately, the in-person interviews reinforced the mutual interest between both parties. Subsequently, Cincinnati Reds owner Bob Castellini traveled to Tucson to meet with Francona and finalize the deal late last week.
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