Terry Francona just made the Reds' succession plan painfully obvious

Terry Francona handed over managerial duties to bench coach Mike Napoli during Friday's game against Toronto, allowing Napoli to make pitching changes and address reporters while the Reds lost 6-5. Francona, who is expected to return in 2027 with a club option for 2028, appears to be signaling that Napoli is his choice to eventually succeed him as manager. Napoli, a former player who worked with Francona in Cleveland before joining the Reds' coaching staff, was promoted to bench coach after the 2025 season and has become one of Francona's top lieutenants.

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