Terry Francona and the Guardians' managerial search: The road traveled and the road ahead
CLEVELAND — The search for Tito's replacement has already begun. The Guardians will now attempt to fill the proverbial large shoes left by the franchise's winningest manager in its 100-plus year history.
Speaking with reporters Tuesday in an end-of-the-season progress conference, Terry Francona officially confirmed that he'll be stepping down as the Guardians manager for the 2024 season.
Francona will remain with the club in some sort of an advisory role moving forward, but that exact position and its parameters have yet to be determined. He has left the door open for a number of opportunities. But he knew it was time to step away as a manager to try to find a level of health he hasn't had in quite some time.
"I never was real concerned with the word retire," Francona said. "I guess when you say retire, it's like, well, you're going home and not doing anything. I don't feel that way either. We'll figure out something that makes sense. … I just need some time. I mean, normally after a season I need some time anyway. This is a little different."
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Francona will soon undergo a shoulder replacement surgery and multiple hernia procedures, possibly with all of them happening at once. Once he's healthy, he'll be able to re-evaluate how he feels about a potential return to baseball at some point in time and in some other role. But it very likely won't be in a managerial role again.
He'd like to spend more time with his grandkids. He'd like to be able to play golf without pain. He'd like to actually be able to swim with both arms. Some friends have a golf trip to Ireland planned, and he'd like to be able to join. And then at some point, he'll see how he feels about the game of baseball and how he might like to become re-integrated.
"I know I need to go home and get healthy and see what I miss about our game, and then maybe after some time, see the best way to maybe quench that appetite — what it is," Francona said. "I don't foresee managing again. If I was going to manage, I like doing it here. But I also don't want to just turn away from the game."
While dealing with several health issues over the last few years, Francona has still had to be the head of the franchise. He's in the meetings. He's reviewing the scouting reports. He's taking calls and having the needed conversations. It'll be nice, for at least a while, to not have a stacked calendar.
"I'm going to be OK not having that," Francona said. "It's been 40-something years of that. I'm ready to rest a little bit and let somebody else be in charge."
President of baseball operations Chris Antonetti opened Tuesday's presser with an emotional thank you to Francona for his 11 years in Cleveland.
"I thought I'd just start by thanking Tito," Antonetti said. "I know it'll make him a little bit uncomfortable, but I need to do it. … Tito is an extraordinary teammate, and that's probably where it starts. He's the person that is always thinking about other people and the organization ahead of himself, and he has helped set the bar for us on what that looks like and what that means to be a great teammate that's aways thinking of others as a leader."
Sandy Alomar Jr. declines to be part of Guardians managerial search
While thanking Francona, Antonetti also went on to note that the search for the club's 2024 manager has already taken its first steps. The club has an initial list of 45 names, including internal and external candidates. Some interviews have already taken place. The Guardians can continue to interview candidates from other teams as long as they follow the league's policy on being granted permission during the postseason.
Several members of the current coaching staff could be candidates. One coach who will not be in the is first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr., who declined an opportunity to interview but has expressed interest in staying on staff under the new manager if possible.
"The most important thing is that we get the right person, and if we can do that quickly, great," Antonetti said. "But if it takes us a month or longer, then that's the necessary timeframe. But the most important thing is getting the right person."
Terry Francona details what led to his decision to step aside as Guardians manager after 2023 season
Tuesday was a day of reflection for both Francona, Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff.
Francona noted more than a month ago that he no longer felt he could do the job like he wanted to, and that it "bothered him." So around mid-August, he began insisting that the front office begin preparing for their search for a new manager.
He also repeatedly noted that it would be the people he would miss the most. And when conversations with those people began to be more difficult, Francona knew it might be time to step aside.
"I was catching myself not being as eager to tackle things," Francona said. "There's always a list every day. I used to be like, 'OK, boom, here we go.' … Conversations that were so easy and ingrained and so fun, I can't do. That started to eat at me."
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Francona had already spent several weeks mulling over his potential decision before he brought it to Antonetti and Chernoff. He also didn't want to wait until the last possible second. It's an example of why Antonetti and Chernoff appreciated Francona putting the franchise first.
Tuesday marked a rare opportunity for the second press conference — the one about the manager leaving — that includes more hugs than the first one did when he was hired.
"I'm a way better person for coming here," he said. "It's just been good, man. I came here for the right reasons. I'm leaving for the right reasons. And in between, it's been really good."
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read more about the Guardians at www.beaconjournal.com/sports/cleveland-guardians. Follow him on Twitter at @ByRyanLewis.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Who will replace Terry Francona as Cleveland Guardians manager?
