Boston Red Sox majority owner John Henry, responding to comments that former Red Sox manager Terry Francona had made to the Boston Herald that he had not spoken to Henry since leaving the team last September despite calling Henry seven or eight times, said in an email that the parties spoke Monday.

"I called Tito about this today," Henry wrote. "We spoke about a number of things, but regarding what you inquired about he said he had called on my cellphone but didn't leave any messages. We simply missed each other apparently a few times. Had he left me a message I would have certainly called him back.

"We talked extensively and agreed that we had waited far too long in speaking and both of us had probably come to some wrong conclusions as to why we hadn't. We are looking forward to sitting down in Fort Myers this spring for lunch or a game. He will always be part of the Red Sox family.

"Tito was the best manager the Boston Red Sox ever had. We won two World Series together. He'll be terrific on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball and no one can doubt that he will be managing again very soon."

Henry responded to email inquiries from ESPNBoston.com and WEEI.com.

In Saturday's Boston Herald, Francona was quoted as saying, "I called John Henry seven or eight times. Never heard from him. I have not talked to John since the day I left. It makes you kind of understand where you stood."

Francona left the Red Sox after the team missed the playoffs following a 7-20 September. In eight seasons in Boston, Francona compiled a 744-552 record, winning the World Series in 2004 and 2007.

Gordon Edes covers the Red Sox for ESPNBoston.com.