Guardians' Francona shares massive hint about future

Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona. David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Guardians manager Terry Francona shares massive hint about future

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 8/22/23

Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona hinted ahead of Tuesday's home series opener versus the Los Angeles Dodgers that he could retire following the ongoing season.

"I think there's a time — and there will be a time — to answer any question there might be about what I'm going to do — or not do," Francona explained, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "I don't think that's now. I don't ever want this to be on me and I just can't let it. The other part is I don't want to lie or I don't want to fib."

Francona holds the Cleveland franchise record for the most wins accumulated by a manager and earned his third career American League Manager of the Year award after he guided the Guardians to the AL Central division title last season.

However, the 64-year-old has dealt with numerous health issues over the past several years, and he took a leave of absence for the remainder of the 2021 season back in July of that year.

Francona admitted Tuesday he is feeling "old and kind of beat up" these days. He also revealed he's spoken with Guardians team president Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff about what's best for everyone involved beyond the regular-season finale on Oct. 1.

"I've talked about a fairness to the organization, a fairness to the players and then some of it to me," Francona added. "This job is really hard. Not that it's a bad job, it's a great job, but it's hard and the older you get or the more beat up you get and sometimes it's both. It just kind of beats on you, kind of wears on you. And I think so much of this organization. I don't ever, ever want to do this for the wrong reasons."

Francona famously led the Boston Red Sox to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007. He took over as Guardians skipper after the 2012 season and guided the club to a World Series appearance in 2016, but the franchise hasn't since returned to the AL Championship Series.

Heading into Tuesday's MLB action, the second-place Guardians trailed the first-place Minnesota Twins by six games in the division standings.

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