Insiders say Terry Francona's return to the coaching chair is good for the game

It was, of course, the Reds who hired former Guardians manager Terry Francona as their new manager. It felt like last year, in fact it was last year, when Francona announced he was stepping down as manager of the Guardians after 11 years of winning more games than any other manager in franchise history.

For several years, Francona struggled with one physical illness after another. Whenever a season ended, Francona would head to the Cleveland Clinic for a new round of surgeries. When he retired last year, he needed his right shoulder replaced and double hernia surgery.

He missed large parts of the season for health reasons.

“Tito was pretty open,” Antonetti said. “I would go back to what he said then. Everything he said was exceptionally true.

“He was beaten up. What he went through over the course of three or four years was really, really hard. His body needed a break. I don’t think he had a sense back then of what was coming next and what wasn’t.”

Antonetti is glad Francona is back in baseball.

“I’m glad he’s healthy and full of energy,” Antonetti said. “He has so much to offer the game of baseball. The game is much better when he is there and involved. The fact that he has the energy to get back into the role of manager is great for him and great for the game.”

Third baseman Jose Ramirez, a Francona favorite, was asked what he thought about the Reds signing Francona.

“I’m happy for him,” Ramirez said.

Then Ramirez asked, “How long did he sign?”

The Reds announced that they had signed Francona to a three-year contract with a one-year option.

Catcher Austin Hedges said, “If you hire a Hall of Fame manager, that’s a good decision.”

Francona served as the team's special assistant following his resignation as Cleveland manager. New manager Stephen Vogt, who leads the Guardians into Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Saturday, used him as a sounding board.

“Tito is someone I looked up to,” Vogt said. “He’s helped me tremendously this year. We want the best people working in baseball, and Tito is certainly one of them. He's a surefire Hall of Famer.

“The Ohio Cup will be a much bigger deal now.”

The Ohio Cup is a traveling trophy between the Guardians and the Reds. It has been owned by the Guardians since 2015.

Detroit manager AJ Hinch, whose wild-card Tigers play the Guardians in the ALDS, was happy to see Francona back in the game, too.

“I had some tough battles with Tito in the playoffs,” Hinch said. “He’s someone I’ve always looked up to. We finished last season against Cleveland and I went up to him and hugged him. I thanked him for everything he did for Managers. Now I have to go back to hating him.

“Tito is good for the game. We bring his experience back to this chair. I’m happy for him, his health and his desire to get back in this chair.”