CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) - After bowing out of his managerial duties back in late July, Cleveland manager Terry Francona re-affirmed initial plans to return to the team for the 2022 season at Wednesday's end-of-year press conference.
"I wouldn't be here if I wasn't planning on coming back next year. I just needed to get these surgeries done, and get them out of the way so I can take the winter to get stronger."
Francona cited his health problems - which have caused the skipper to miss significant portions of the last two seasons - and how he needed to utilize the offseason to return to better strength for the club soon to be known as the Guardians.
"It's been two years now, in a row, where I haven't been able to finish the season. That's not good for anybody. It's not fair to the organization...I really think we the time I have this winter that I'll be able to be excited about showing up to Spring Training."
Cleveland president Chris Antonetti also added: "Tito has been such an incredible partner for all of us in baseball operations, and for [Cleveland general manager Mike Chernoff] and I as part of a leadership team, that having him continue to lead us moving forward is a huge impact organizationally. We're really grateful that he's on a place both physically and mentally where he'll be able to do that."
While Francona plans to make his return, so do many of his players that were forced to miss portions of last season with numerous injuries, including ace pitchers Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale.
"That was one of the important things of the last few weeks, getting both Aaron and Shane back on the mound," Antonetti explained. "To give them that peace of mind knowing that they'll go into the winter and really focus on getting ready for next season, and not really worry about rehabbing."
Antonetti also talked about the anticipation Cleveland has for up-and-coming prospects for next season - both with and without major league experience.
"One of the things we're really excited about is we turn the page and look to 2022 is not just the young group of players we had at the major league level that we saw this year, but another wave of players either just getting to the major leagues, or at the upper levels of the minor leagues," said Antonetti. "We're hopeful, both on the mound and in the field, that the group of players will be able to contribute and impact our team."
The organization will almost certainly be hoping for another star-caliber player like Jose Ramirez, who finished his third All-Star season with 36 home runs and 103 runs batted in, as well as 27 stolen bases and a .955 fielding perentage.
"It's not just his bat," Francona praised about his infielder. 'It's the way he runs the bases. It's the way he pays attention to the game. It's the plays he makes defensively. he does everything. This kid is one of the very best players in the game."
Antonetti also explained that, at the team's end-of-season meetings with players, "Both pitchers and position players...I can't count the number of guys that referenced the impact Jose has had in some particular way. He's not only a great player, but a great teammate that's impacting other people."
"I really think with the time I have this winter that I'll be able to be excited about showing up to Spring Training."
