MLB experts share similar reactions to Reds hiring Terry Francona as new manager

The Cincinnati Reds swung big during their managerial search and hit a home run with the hiring of Terry Francona to be the club's new manager. Cincinnati inked the future Hall of Famer to a three-year deal with an option for a fourth that could keep Tito in the Queen City through 2028.

As you would expect, the reaction among the fanbase has been a mix of elation, joy, and excitement. After six years of underperforming under former manager David Bell, the Reds have a proven winner at the helm in Francona.

But Reds' fans aren't the only ones praising this hire. You'd be hard-pressed to find a single MLB analyst, expert, or pundit who doesn't see this as top-notch hire on the part of Nick Krall and the Reds management.

MLB Network analysts says Reds sent a message to all of baseball after hiring Terry Francona

Harold Reynolds has been an analyst on MLB Network for years. Like him or hate him, Reynolds played the game for 12 years, went to multiple All-Star Games, and has his eyes focused on game on a nightly basis; he knows what he's talking about. Reynolds' thoughts about the hire goes beyond the Xs and Os.

Reynolds said, "He (Francona) is not coming back to baseball, and this is a message for everybody, unless the Reds are ready to win...He's been sitting back at home watching more baseball than any of us, and he knows this is an organization ready to win. He will take them to that next step."

Another MLB Network analyst, Kevin Pillar, who played for Francona during his time with the Boston Red Sox, gave his evaluation of the hire during an appearance on Intentional Talk. Pillar said, "This is absolutely awesome for the Reds."

Reds broadcaster Jeff Brantley gave his ringing endorsement following the Terry Francona hire

If there's one voice throughout Reds Country that everyone knows, it's Jeff Brantley. The Cowboy had a successful Major League career and is currently the color analyst alongside Tommy Thrall on the Reds Radio Network.

Brantley, during an interview with WLWT spoke about how he heard the news and made a bold proclamation saying, "Every offseason, and this is usually in Febraury or March, you get all these publications that come out with, who did this, who did that, and who won the offseason. Let me tell you something, we're not even in the offseason, and the Reds have already won it."

So if you're a member of Reds Country and were curious what the rest of the baseball world thought about Tito coming to Cincinnati, it's been received about as well as anything this franchise has done in the past decade.

No longer will the Reds fanbase be able to blame the manager; that mechanism is gone. The responsibility for winning ball games now shifts to the front office and the players as Reds fans are hoping to see winning baseball return to Cincinnati.

More Cincinnati Reds News and Rumors