Perrotto: Pirates Could Have Hit Jackpot With Terry Francona

The Pittsburgh Pirates make one bad decision after another. It is a never-ending cycle that stretches back more than three decades.

The inability to make the right moves is a large reason why the Pirates wrapped up their 28^th losing season in 32 years last Sunday.

It was a questionable decision when general manager Ben Cherington said last month that manager Derek Shelton would be back for a sixth season. While I don’t like to see anyone lose their job, Shelton has had ample time to prove that he is a winner but hasn’t.

The surprising events of late Monday night make that decision look bad.

News broke that the Cincinnati Reds will hire Terry Francona as manager barely a year after he retired from the Cleveland Guardians. The future Hall of Famer is going to a market smaller than Pittsburgh and a Pirates’ rival in the National League Central.

Francona could easily be the difference in pushing the Reds and their talented young players over the top next season and to their first NL Central title since 2012 is not farfetched.

What makes matters worse is the Pirates would have had a chance to hire Francona if they tried.

Word around baseball circles in recent months was that Francona was getting bored in retirement. He had taken care of myriad health issues, lost 25 pounds, and was ready to return to the high-stress job of being an MLB manager.

Teams knew Francona would be in play for any managerial openings. Surely, the Pirates had to know that, too.

It is easy to write off the idea of Francona coming to Pittsburgh out of hand because of the last three decades, which has tarnished the reputation of what was once one of the sport’s jewel franchises.

However, I know Francona would have picked up his phone if Cherington called. He would have listened to what the Pirates had to say.

Francona may not have taken the job, but the decision would have tugged at his heartstrings.

Francona grew up in New Brighton as a Pirates fan and has often expressed how he hopes the franchise can someday win again. Even though he moved away after winning the Golden Spikes Award in 1980 at the University of Arizona as the college player of the year, Francona has never hidden his fondness for Beaver County – and the Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe.

The Brighton Hot Dog Shoppe? IYKYK.

The Pirates could have got everything a team wants in a manager by hiring Francona. He is immensely beloved and respected by his players. He is a strong tactician and maximizes his players’ talent. He is extremely personable, making him a favorite of fans and media.

Hiring Francona would have energized a team that often sleepwalked through the final third of the past season and given the Pirates credibility. He would have cleaned up the fundamental mistakes and lack of attention to deal.

Most importantly, hiring Francona would have been a sign to the fans that the Pirates care about winning.

Instead, Shelton will be back at the helm despite being 120 games under .500 after five seasons. The Pirates have gone 294-414 with Shelton in the dugout for a .415 winning percentage,

Only one man with at least 500 games managed with the Pirates has a lower winning percentage. Billy Meyer compiled a .412 mark while leading the Pirates to a 317-452 record for five seasons from 1948-52.

Meyer had his No. 1 retired by the Pirates because, by all accounts, he was a good guy.

Francona is a good guy, too, and he’ll be inducted in Cooperstown not long after he retires for good. Hiring him five months after rookie phenom pitcher Paul Skenes reached the major leagues would have won the Pirates the good publicity jackpot.

Instead, they’ve left their fans bracing for a third straight 76-86 record in 2025.