Boston parted ways with manager Terry Francona on Friday, a decision announced two days after the Red Sox’s stunning collapse last month ended with the team missing the playoffs.
In a joint statement released after Red Sox executives met with Francona, owners John Henry, Tom Werner and Larry Lucchino said a change was needed, adding that they would not pick up Francona’s option.
They thanked Francona, who led the team to two World Series titles — in 2004 and 2007.
“Tito said that after eight years here he was frustrated by his difficulty making an impact with the players, that a different voice was needed, and that it was time for him to move on,” the statement said. “After taking time to reflect on Tito’s sentiments, we agreed that it was best for the Red Sox not to exercise the option years on his contract.”
The day had been busy at Fenway Park, where all of the parties involved were seen coming and going. At one point, general manager Theo Epstein issued a statement saying all parties wanted time to consider what had been discussed in their meetings.
Eventually, however, Francona’s departure was decided, although Epstein said it was not the result of Boston’s historic late-season collapse.
Boston had led the American League wild card race by nine games on Sept. 4. They went 6-18 after that, ending with a 4-3 defeat on the final day of the season in Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday.
That defeat opened the door for the Tampa Bay Rays, who rallied to beat the Yankees on Wednesday and seize the last American League playoff spot.
“Nobody at the Red Sox blames Tito for what happened at the end of this season,” Epstein said. “We own that as an organization. This year was certainly a difficult and draining one for him and for us.
“Ultimately, he decided that there were certain things that needed to be done that he couldn’t do after eight years here, and that this team would benefit from hearing a new voice,” Epstein said.
Francona said he had told the owners and executives that he was frustrated “at my inability to effectively reach the players.”
“After many conversations and much consideration, I ultimately felt that, out of respect to this team, it was time for me to move on,” Francona said. “I’ve always maintained that it is not only the right, but the obligation, of ownership to have the right person doing this job.”
“I told them that out of my enormous respect for this organization and the people in it, they may need to find a different voice to lead the team,” Francona said.
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