(Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)
Terry Francona is about to complete his 11th season as Cleveland Guardians manager.
In 10 tries, he has taken his team to six postseasons, including the 2016 World Series when he fell one game short of winning the ring.
Health has been a factor for him over the years.
He underwent heart surgery in 2017, had some gastrointestinal problems and blood-clotting issues in 2020, and a hip ailment and a staph infection in 2021.
Not even he knows what the future holds.
“Guardians manager Terry Francona said he’s had serious discussions with the organization about his future. Not ready to make any announcements at this time,” Cleveland sports reporter Tom Withers tweeted.
Guardians manager Terry Francona said he’s had serious discussions with the organization about his future. Not ready to make any announcements at this time.
— Tom Withers (@twithersAP) August 22, 2023
The organization has been on the record saying that the job is Francona’s for as long as he wants it or feels healthy enough to do it.
However, the 2023 season has been a step back to what the Guardians achieved last year.
In 2022, Francona was named Manager of the Year, taking his team to 92 wins and a playoff series victory.
They are 59-66 this time around, and even though they can still theoretically catch the Minnesota Twins (Cleveland is six games behind for the AL Central lead), Francona might also want to know the front office and ownership’s willingness to invest in the team and maintain a productive core.
We will have to wait for an official announcement, but Francona has the backing of an entire fanbase: the Guardians have been nothing but competitive while he has been at the helm, finishing no lower than third in the AL Central in any year of his tenure.
The post Guardians Insider Reveals Terry Francona 2024 Update appeared first on The Cold Wire.