It appears Terry Francona will pay for Boston's sins. Reports have been trickling out since Thursday night that the Red Sox and their manager will part ways, and now all that's left is the official announcement.
SI.com's Jon Heyman is reporting that even after winning a World Series in 2004 and 2007, Francona is out after eight years in Boston. The Red Sox will decline to pick up the option on Francona's contract.
The decision was apparently made last night and may be announced today. There were differences over how things were handled this season.
The outcome follows the second consecutive season in which the Red Sox missed postseason — this year that absence was the result of a historic collapse that included a 7-20 record in September. Still, it's a somewhat surprising end to the relationship between a team, and a manager that presided over the most successful run for the franchise since the early 20th century.
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