The Reds hire the former Red Sox, Guardians and Phillies manager

Barely a year after Terry Francona played his final game with the Cleveland Guardians, the Cincinnati Reds hired the man many consider to be one of the two or three best managers in the game in recent years to replace David Bell.

Multiple sources confirmed the hiring Thursday night immediately after the wild-card round of the playoffs ended.

Francona declined to comment when reached by phone Thursday evening.

According to sources, he is joining the Reds on a three-year contract.

Francona, 65, left the Guardians last year after 11 seasons, largely for health reasons. He was emphatic at the time that he wasn't “retiring,” saying at the time that he hoped to stay in the game somehow.

“I don’t think I can do it (again),” he said at the time. “I don’t have a crystal ball.” Nobody does. Because if I can do it, I'll be happy to do it here (in Cleveland). But I don’t want to just turn away from the game either.”