The Cleveland Indians signed the popular manager Terry Francona to a two-year contract extension through the 2022 season on Wednesday, giving him more security and a chance to become the longest tenured manager in Cleveland's history.
Francona's deal was set to expire after 2020, but as he begins his seventh season, the Indians decided to lengthen its successful partnership with the man known as "Tito."
Since being hired in 2013, Francona has led the Indians to three consecutive AL Central titles and the World Series in 2016, when Cleveland lost Game 7 in 10 innings to the Chicago Cubs.
"We had exceedingly high expectations when we hired Tito, and the unbelievable thing, is as high as those expectations were, he's gone on to exceed those every day," said Chris Antonetti, the team's president of baseball operations. "And it's not just with what happens on the field, it's what happens behind the scenes.… [In] those moments of adversity, that's when Tito is at his best."
"I will say this: I have no ambition to ever work somewhere else," said Francona, who will turn 60 later this month. "… And that's because of the people here."
Associated Press
