Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona has officially stepped down from his role after 11 seasons.
"I came here for the right reasons, and I think I'm leaving for the right reasons, but in between has been really good," the 64-year-old said in a statement.
Terry Francona officially steps away from his role as manager.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/VTIMns0klk
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) October 3, 2023
Francona has hinted over the last few months that he was feeling "beat up" with the demands of being a major league manager.
The two-time World Series-winning manager has faced several health problems for the past few years that have caused him to miss many games, including gastrointestinal issues, a staph infection, and hip replacement surgery.
The Guardians brought Francona on board for the 2013 season. During his tenure, he guided the team to the playoffs six times, with a notable appearance in the 2016 World Series, where they narrowly lost to the Chicago Cubs.
Terry Francona will stay with the Guardians
While Francona has concluded his managerial duties, he will continue to be a part of the Guardians organization in a different capacity.
Guardians president of baseball operations, Chris Antonetti, confirmed the news but said that the specifics of that role haven't been discussed yet.
The three-time AL Manager of the Year doesn't envision returning to a managerial role, but he keeps the possibility of remaining with baseball open once he regains his health.
He has refrained from using the word "retire" when discussing his departure from the Guardians' managerial role.
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