CINCINNATI — With one year remaining on his three-year contract with Cincinnati, manager Terry Francona said he’s dedicated to helping the Reds bounce back from their disappointing season and expressed belief the front office can do what’s necessary to make that happen.
“When you go through your second year and things don’t go the way you want to, I’ve seen a lot of times things go off the rails,” Francona said before Monday’s series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Great American Ball Park. “That’s why I want to be part of the solution and I know they do, too. I mean, that’s why we’re here.”
Nick Krall, the team’s president of baseball operations, told reporters in Milwaukee on Sunday that he expects the team’s front office and coaching staff to stay relatively unchanged for 2027. The Reds (70-79) entered Monday in last place in the National League Central after making the playoffs in 2025.
Francona, 67, said Krall and general manager Brad Meador were a large part of why he came out of retirement to manage the Reds following the 2024 season.
“I value, especially maybe at my age now, the people,” Francona said. “(That) doesn’t mean you don’t go through tough times — because you do — but when you do, you want to be with people that you’re aligned with and you care about and they care about you.”
Francona said his relationship with the front office has only gotten stronger through two seasons.
“One thing I really appreciate is it’s not who f—d up, it’s how to make it better,” Francona said. “That’s a good way to go about things.”
Francona has been to three World Series as a manager, winning twice with the Boston Red Sox (2004 and 2007) and losing once with Cleveland (2016).
Eugenio Suárez hasn’t been able to replicate his power numbers with the Diamondbacks and Mariners from last season in his return to Cincinnati. (Jeff Dean / Getty Images)
Francona went 83-79 at the helm of the Reds last season. The team added slugger Eugenio Suárez on a one-year deal in the offseason to upgrade the offense. After hitting 49 home runs in 2025, Suárez has just 24.
The Reds opened 20-11 and were atop the division after the first month but have stumbled since, going 50-68 since May, including a 27-27 record since the All-Star break. The Reds are last in baseball in batting average (.230) and their .308 on-base percentage is among the worst in the game. Only four teams began play Monday having scored fewer runs.
The Reds’ front office made a couple of small moves at the trade deadline, but held onto assets like catcher Tyler Stephenson and starter Brady Singer, both of whom are due to be free agents this offseason.
Last year’s two-game exit against the Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Series marked Krall’s only playoff appearance since he took over after the 2020 season. The Reds haven’t won a playoff series since 1995.