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Cleveland Indians: 3 external managerial options for when Terry Francona retires

By Aaron Gershon |
OAKLAND, CA - JULY 03: Hitting coach James Rowson #82 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Oakland Athletics on July 3, 2019 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Twins defeated the Athletics 4-3. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JULY 03: Hitting coach James Rowson #82 of the Minnesota Twins looks on against the Oakland Athletics on July 3, 2019 at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Twins defeated the Athletics 4-3. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images)
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While Terry Francona is expected to return as the manager of the Cleveland Indians in 2021, it’s important to keep external options in-mind if his health doesn’t allow for a planned comeback.

The Cleveland Indians 35-25 2020 season looks a bit more impressive given the fact they were without their skipper for 48 games.

Manager Terry Francona was on the Indians bench for just 12 games in 2020 as he battled health issues such as gastrointestinal issues and blood clotting complications.

While it was reported this week 2020 the Indians expect Francona back on the bench in 2021, it’s no guarantee the 61-year old will be healthy enough to return, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic likely still to be ongoing come the spring.

With Francona out, first base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. moved into the managerial role in what many called an audition to be Francona’s future replacement. While he may be considered the heavy favorite whenever Tito does decide to call it a career, it will be important for the Indians to consider all options, including those from outside the organization.

Here are five external managerial candidates for the Tribe to consider if/when Francona decides to retire.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 19: Third base coach Will Venable #25 of the Chicago Cubs stands on the field during Game Two of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals at at Wrigley Field on August 19, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – AUGUST 19: Third base coach Will Venable #25 of the Chicago Cubs stands on the field during Game Two of a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals at at Wrigley Field on August 19, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) /

Will Venable (37)

Résumé

  • Outfielder, San Diego Padres 2008-15
  • Outfielder, Texas Rangers 2015
  • Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers 2016
  • Special Assistant to GM, Chicago Cubs 2017
  • First Base Coach, Chicago Cubs 2018-19
  • Third Base Coach, Chicago Cubs 2020-Present

Every year, young managers not far removed from playing the game themselves are being hired. Will Venable is an example of one likely to find a managerial role in the near future.

Venable spent nine seasons in the majors before joining the Chicago Cubs as a special assistant to general manager Theo Epstein. He quickly found himself on manager Joe Maddon’s coaching staff as he was the first-base coach for Chicago in 2018-19 and was given third-base coaching duties by new skipper David Ross in 2020.

The 37-year old is already a named as a candidate for the Detroit Tigers managerial opening as many believe he’ll join Dave Martinez (Nationals) and Brandon Hyde (Orioles) as Cub assistant coaches to get a chance as a skipper.

He is well-respected by his players and with the Indians needing help developing offense, a former outfielder may be a great fit to pair with pitching coach Carl Willis whose done an outstanding job since coming to Cleveland in 2018.

MESA, AZ – FEBRUARY 28: Sam Fuld #23 of the Oakland Athletics poses for a portrait during the spring training photo day at HoHoKam Stadium on February 28, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
MESA, AZ – FEBRUARY 28: Sam Fuld #23 of the Oakland Athletics poses for a portrait during the spring training photo day at HoHoKam Stadium on February 28, 2015 in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Sam Fuld (38)

Résumé

  • Outfielder, Chicago Cubs 2007, 2009-10
  • Outfielder, Tampa Bay Rays 2011-13
  • Outfielder, Minnesota Twins 2014
  • Outfielder, Oakland A’s 2014-15
  • Information Coordinator, Philadelphia Phillies 2017-Present

Like Venable, Sam Fuld is a former outfielder not far removed from his playing career that many consider destined to wind up a big league skipper.

After just one year away from the game, Fuld was hired by the Philadelphia Phillies as an Information Coordinator a position he still holds today.

Last offseason, the former outfielder was a name that came up in a number of managerial searches, but he declined interview requests from the Cubs, Pirates and Mets to remain with the Phillies.

Now, he is a hot-name in the Boston Red Sox managerial search but with there unlikely to be many openings outside of Boston and Detroit, given the short 2020 season, there’s a chance he’ll still be on the open market next offseason.

If so, he’s a name worth looking into for the Indians if they plan to have a young team, continue to rely on analytics and need offensive improvement.

JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: James Rowson #82 of the Miami Marlins poses for a photo during Photo Day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 19, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
JUPITER, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 19: James Rowson #82 of the Miami Marlins poses for a photo during Photo Day at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium on February 19, 2020 in Jupiter, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

James Rowson (44) 

Résumé

  • Minor League Outfielder, Seattle Mariners (1995-96)
  • Minor League Outfielder, New York Yankees (1997-98)
  • Minor League Hitting Coordinator, New York Yankees (2005-11)
  • Hitting Coach, Chicago Cubs (2012-13)
  • Minor League Hitting Coordinator, New York Yankees (2013-16)
  • Hitting Coach, Minnesota Twins (2017-19)
  • Bench Coach and Offensive Coordinator, Miami Marlins (2020-Present)

The Cleveland Indians must find a way to both develop and coach their hitters better. With a pitching staff that is set up to be among the best in baseball for several years to come, an offensive-minded manager such as James Rowson could be the perfect fit for the Indians.

After failing to reach the majors, Rowson spent two stints with the New York Yankees as their Minor League Hitting Coordinator and worked closely with future all-stars Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.

In between, he had a brief stint as the Cubs hitting coach from 2012-13 and ended up back in the dugout as the Twins hitting coach from 2017-19.

While in Minnesota, Rowson’s offense set baseball’s single-season home run record in 2019 as young players such as Eddie Rosario, Jorge Polanco, Max Keppler and Mitch Graver began to breakout under Rowson’s wing.
After 2019, he was hired away from the Twins by the Miami Marlins, where he was named Bench Coach and Offensive Coordinator. He immediately helped improve Miami’s offense and watches as the Marlins ended their 17-year playoff drought and swept the Cubs in the 2020 Wild Card Series.

Every offense Rowson has touched as improved mightily and with experience learning from managers such as Roco Baldelli and Don Mattingly, he is ready to take over as a big-league manager and Cleveland would be the perfect fit to do just that.

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