Terry Francona's managerial history

Move is bright light after dark season: Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have picked Terry Francona to be their new manager and have signed him to a four-year guaranteed contract.

The team will make a formal announcement Monday at Progressive Field, but in a statement said it will have no further comment until then because MLB protocol requires teams to keep a low profile during postseason play.

Francona, who led Boston to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007, and Sandy Alomar Jr. were the only candidates for the job. Alomar, who finished the season as interim manager after the Tribe fired Manny Acta on Sept. 27, interviewed Thursday. Francona interviewed Friday.

The Indians told Alomar on Saturday that Francona was their choice. Alomar, in a text, declined to comment "out of respect for the new manager. Let Terry have the first say." The Indians reportedly did offer Alomar a job as Francona's bench coach, but it's unclear if he's accepted.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com reported Saturday that a deal had already been reached. Francona told The Plain Dealer at the time, "I hope he's right, but I don't think he's quite right."

After Friday, it was clear that the Indians' next manager would either be Francona or Sandy Alomar Jr. The Indians didn't interview anyone else.

Last week The Plain Dealer talked to several baseball people about the attributes of Francona and Alomar. The most frequent answer, "They can't go wrong with either guy."

Indians right-hander Justin Masterson played for Francona in Boston in 2008 and 2009 before he was traded to the Indians.

"What's great as a team is that you have two well-respected individuals who are solid about the game," said Masterson. "Potentially, we feel it should be one of those two guys. We feel good things will happen either way.

"Right now, the boys love Santos and enjoy having him around. I've had a chance to be with Tito and I appreciate him and think he's great. I don't think we can go wrong."

Curt Schilling, who pitched for Francona in Boston, said in a Tweet: "I don't think the Tribe can lose, either way. Francona or Alomar, both are going to do well wherever they end up."

When comparing resumes, the Indians' choice was easy. Alomar, 46, was an accomplished player from a baseball family that included Hall of Fame brother Roberto Alomar, but the six games he managed at the end of this season were the only six of his career.

Francona, 53, managed four years in the minors with the White Sox from 1992 through 1995. Along the way, he managed NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan, who could not hit the breaking ball or the fastball. Francona managed the Phillies from 1997 through 2000. In 2004, he took over the Red Sox, leading them to World Series titles in 2004 and 2007 and five straight postseason appearances.

Following an historic September collapse in the 2011, a collapse that cost the Red Sox a place in the postseason despite winning 90 games, Francona's option was not exercised.

Francona's major league record is 1,029-915 (.529).

"I think Francona is a pretty good manager," said one major league scout. "He's very steady. He's already dealt with the kind of team he'll have in Cleveland [next year] with the teams he managed in Philadelphia.

"He's good with young players and he had to manage a lot of egos in Boston with Manny Ramirez, Johnny Damon and guys like that. So he knows how to do that."

Dustin Pedroia, Kevin Youkilis, Jacoby Ellsbury and Jon Lester broke into the big leagues and became stars in Boston under Francona.

"A general manager has to determine what kind of manager best fits his club," said a NL scout. "He can asked his player personnel people and scouts for advice, but it usually comes down to a gut feeling on the general manager's part."

FoxSports.com said Francona averaged $4 million a year in his last deal with the Red Sox. GM Chris Antonetti said Thursday that money would be no object in signing a manager.

Francona has earned a reputation of protecting his players at almost all costs. He had plenty of practice in Boston's intense baseball market.

"You'd be hiring an attractive guy in Francona," said John Hart, former Indians general manager and a consultant with Texas. "He's got a good relationship with the front office. Tremendous managerial experience with a winning resume.

"He was scapegoat in Boston after the 2011 season and everyone saw what the end result was this year. He's a player's manager and he will help that team grow."

After being fired by the Phillies following the 2000 season, Francona was hired by Indians President Mark Shapiro as a special assistant. Shapiro was general manager at the time. He also became friends with current GM Chris Antonetti, who was Shapiro's assistant at the time.

The worst part about the decision is that the Indians could lose Alomar. Over the past two years he's interviewed for the managerial jobs in Boston, Toronto and the Chicago Cubs. The Boston job is open again and Toronto soon could be if the Red Sox work a trade for John Farrell to be their manager.

If Alomar gets a manager's job, Brad Mills is a possibility to be the Indians' next bench coach. He was Francona's bench coach in Boston and was fired as Houston's manager during the season.

"Sandy has a chance to be a real good manager," said Hart. "He has a chance to be a long-term fit with a team. He's smart, comes from a baseball family and he's bilingual."