Terry Francona Officially Steps Down as Guardians Manager

Terry Francona walks away from managing the Cleveland Guardians after 11 terrific seasons.

© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After weeks of speculation and hinting at the possibility, Terry Francona has officially announced that he is stepping down as the manager of the Cleveland Guardians. 

While he told the media on Tuesday that he does not anticipate managing again, he is looking forward to having a role within the Guardians’ organization once he gets his health in order. That role has not been defined yet, but he’s looking forward to figuring out where he best fits into the picture with the franchise.

Even to the very end, Francona wouldn’t use the word “retire”. He isn’t sure what his future with baseball looks like, but it’s clear he isn’t walking away from the job because he wants nothing to do with baseball anymore.

Francona ends his decade-long stint with Cleveland as their winningest manager in history with 921 victories. He also won three Manager of the Year awards with the organization in 2013, 2016, and 2022. This included a World Series run that nearly ended Cleveland’s long-suffering championship drought.

Teams managed by Tito have been as consistent as they come. There have only been two seasons under his leadership in which they have not finished with a .500-or-better record (2021 and 2023).

Tito's love for the game is still there. He gloats every chance he gets about how great it's been to be around a young group such as the Guardians for the last few seasons and you can tell this is sincere in the way he interacts with his players.

However, Francona's health is his top priority in his life and there's a lot on his radar in that department. Tito has a history of health scares which has affected his managing career. 

He missed a majority of the 2020 and 2022 seasons due to a number of surgeries and other issues. His latest scare came earlier this season in Kansas City which caused him to miss three games in the hospital. 

Francona will undergo shoulder replacement surgery and two hernia operations beginning next week.

Terry Francona looks on from the dugout at Progressive Field / © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Cleveland's President of Baseball Operation Chris Antonetti said earlier this year that the front office wants, "Tito to manage (in Cleveland) as long as it doesn't affect his overall well-being, fulfillment, and happiness ... The most important thing is Tito's life after (baseball)." 

It appears all of Francona's health challenges that Antonetti alluded to are coming to fruition. 

Don't be worried about whether or not Tito is uncertain about his decision. Francona has been on the record saying that he's "at peace" with his decision and "it's time."

Seeing another manager at the top step of the Guardians' dugout in 2024 will take some time to get used to, but I think we all know the next stop for this baseball legend is Cooperstown.