CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds made their biggest offseason move not by acquiring a big-name player to address their struggling offense, but by signing a Hall of Fame manager. Terry Francona, who seemed retired, was brought in just after the 2024 season ended to take over the team.
The move was so significant that Francona is the sole face on the cover of the 2025 Reds Media Guide, with no players featured — not even top performers from last season like an MVP or Cy Young contender. For the Reds, Francona was the marquee acquisition.
Francona was brought in to be the difference-maker: a seasoned, proven winner with the ability to hold players accountable, sharpen base running, and bring a missing energy to the clubhouse. Many believed Francona could take this team to the next level in ways former manager David Bell couldn’t.
However, two weeks into the 2025 season, it’s clear that the honeymoon phase for Francona’s tenure may already be over. The Reds sit at 5-8 and are tied for last place in the NL Central with the Pirates. Though it’s still early, many are questioning whether the manager can truly bring the change he was expected to.
It all started on Opening Day, when the Reds entered the ninth inning with a 3-2 lead. Francona brought in Ian Gibaut — a reliever who made the team due to injuries — to close the game. Gibaut gave up four runs, leading to a loss. When asked afterward, Francona admitted he should have used Scott Barlow in the ninth instead of Gibaut, raising further questions about the bullpen decision.
The Reds’ offense hasn’t helped much either, struggling to score consistently. In 10 of their first 13 games, they’ve scored four runs or fewer, with several games where they failed to reach three runs altogether.
Base running, an issue under Bell, remains a problem. Francona was expected to fix these blunders, but so far, the team continues to make risky and unwise decisions on the bases, leading to missed opportunities.
Wednesday’s game in San Francisco further highlighted these concerns. Leading 6-1 in the sixth inning, the Reds watched as Nick Martinez, showing signs of fatigue, gave up a series of hits that allowed the Giants to cut into their lead. Francona kept Martinez in too long and later made another questionable move by bringing in lefty Taylor Rogers against several right-handed batters. The Reds eventually lost the game in extras, capped by a walk-off home run from Mike Yastrzemski.
Francona’s job, like any manager, is to set up his players for success. While it’s still early in the season, many are wondering if the Reds’ gamble on a Hall of Fame manager will pay off, or if they’ll continue to make the same mistakes that plagued the team in recent years. For now, it’s clear that the managerial change hasn’t yet resulted in the immediate improvements fans were hoping for.
