Reds shockingly hire Terry Francona as next manager amid NL playoff drama

The Cincinnati Reds have found their next manager not too long after parting ways with David Bell. According to reports, former Cleveland Guardians and Boston Red Sox skipper Terry Francona will take over in Cincy for the 2025 season.

There was some recent speculation this could be a pairing given Francona's supposed intention to return after a one-year hiatus alongside the Reds' dire need for a true dugout leader. But nobody expected it to materialize this quickly.

Per MLB insider Mark Feinsand, an announcement is expected to be made Friday. Details of the agreement have not been disclosed, but Feinsand's reporting was backed by ESPN's Jeff Passan.

Francona, who will one day become a Hall of Famer, completely changes the game for the Reds in an open NL Central. Cincinnati's young roster definitely needs a seasoned decision maker, especially one that has been to three World Series (and helped the Red Sox break their 86-year championship curse).

Reds shockingly hire Terry Francona as next manager amid NL playoff drama

The Reds put forth another wildly disappointing campaign, though this one could certainly be blamed on injuries with the amount of guys they were missing for much of the year. At this point, it feels like any change with intention will result in good fortune.

The team made this impact move as the playoff picture was unfolding on Thursday night. The news, in fact, coincided with the Milwaukee Brewers' dramatic elimination from the postseason. After leading 2-0 in the ninth, the Brewers choked in a decisive win-or-go-home Game 3 vs the Mets. Closer Devin Williams surrendered four earned runs after allowing just three in 21 games this season.

Could that represent a changing of the guard? The Reds were viewed as the favorites to win the division in 2024 but took a massive step back. On the other hand, the Cardinals, Cubs and Pirates continue to remain stuck while the Brewers can't get over the first-round playoff hump in their last five tries.

Expect more updates on Friday, but this is undoubtedly an exciting development for Reds fans, who have been dying to return to the postseason for the first time in a full MLB season since 2013.