It's official: Guardians manager Terry Francona announces he is stepping down
The time has come. Terry Francona has officially announced he is stepping down as manager of the Cleveland Guardians.
Francona confirmed the 2023 season was his last with Cleveland at a news conference with reporters Tuesday afternoon.
President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti confirmed that Francona will have a role with the organization moving forward, but that exact position has not yet been determined.
It ends more than a month of speculation, though it was the worst-kept secret in baseball that the 2023 season would be his last. Francona didn't want to make anything official until after the conclusion of the regular season, as he wanted it to be about the players in the clubhouse.
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Francona ends his 11-year run in Cleveland with a 921-757 record, making him the winningest manager in franchise history. He is also the second-longest tenured coach or manager in Cleveland sports history, behind only Paul Brown.
Francona led Cleveland to the playoffs six times, with four American League Central titles (2016, 2017, 2018, 2022) and a trip to the World Series in 2016.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians manager Terry Francona officially announces he's leaving
