Terry Francona’s veteran loyalty could derail the Reds’ young talent

One of Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona's best qualities is the way he supports his guys. The veteran is the epitome of a players' manager and a master at fostering belief and getting the buy-in of every player on his roster. When it works, and he has the talent needed at his disposal, things look like the 2004 Boston Red Sox, a self-described "bunch of idiots" that overcame a 3-0 deficit in the ALCS against their arch rival and went on to snap an 86-year World Series curse.

However, there's a dark side to Francona's loyalty. It can lead him to stick with struggling players for far too long, making it so things can get out of hand.

For the Reds this season, the situation has already run amok, and there's no cleaning it up now. After beginning the year with dreams of building on last year's playoff appearance, Cincinnati now needs to look to the future.

There lies the tension. Francona's optimistic bent and support for his players, no matter how much they struggle, make it hard to turn the page. The goal now should be kicking struggling veterans to the curb and giving youngsters some run. The results might not be any better, but at least pieces with potential will get some much-needed experience that could serve well for their development in 2027 and beyond.

Terry Francona's loyalty to struggling veterans like TJ Friedl, Eugenio Suarez, and others could prove costly to Reds youngsters

Back in May, Francona came out in defense of TJ Friedl's poor performance, saying, "I was telling TJ the other day, you’ve got to walk up to the plate with your chest out still. You’ve got to be strong enough mentally to look at the scoreboard and see your batting average and know that's not what you are.”

Fast forward a few months, and the 31-year-old is hitting .164/.250/.246. He needs to be firmly planted on the bench to give Hector Rodriguez, Noelvi Marte, and potentially other Reds young outfielders like Carlos Jorge every opportunity to find themselves at the big league level.

Furthermore, a bullpen arm like Pierce Johnson shouldn't stand in the way of younger arms getting innings. A guy like Luis Mey should get a chance to see if he can work through his command issues and become a real strikeout artist. And while Chase Petty was just sent back to Louisville, he should get another opportunity before the season is done to prove whether or not he can thrive in the bullpen.

Even more painful decisions, like taking a beloved figure like Eugenio Suarez and forcing him to take a step back, shouldn't be off the table — though Geno's been red-hot since the All-Star break.

The Reds have an opportunity. It's one that is wrapped in bitter circumstances, but it is an opportunity nonetheless. They can use these final weeks of the season to audition young players for 2027, giving them a vision for what needs do and don't need to be attacked in the offseason.

That can only happen if Francona is willing to let go of his fond feelings for struggling veteran stalwarts. If he can, Cincinnati will be all the better for it moving forward. If not, it could prove costly.

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