Former Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona did not entirely rule out a return to managing this year, but removed himself from consideration for the Chicago Cubs job, telling "The Waddle and Silva Show" on ESPN 1000 he needed to re-energize.
"I don't know that I can confirm that [report that he won't manage in 2012]," Francona said Wednesday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "I talked to [CSNNE.com] this morning and what I told him was that I did interview in St. Louis. I really did want to. It was a genuine interest on my part. And then when I didn't get the job I thought it was necessary to step back and, 'Ok, what do I need to do?'
"I think that is, take a step back, take a deep breath, figure out what I do want to do, so when there is a next time -- and I hope there is -- I'll be refreshed and energized so you can do the job that's necessary. It's a tough job. At the end of every year, you're beat up. And at the end of this year, we were all beat up. To do the job right, you have to be all in, and that's how I feel right now."
Francona was a candidate to replace Tony LaRussa in St. Louis, but the Cardinals passed on Francona in favor of Mike Matheny. Francona was a candidate in Chicago before removing himself from the equation, saying he doubted he was the right person for the job.
"Me and Theo [Epstein] have talked to so much the past month," Francona said. "I think he knows how I feel, and I know he feels. Sometimes I just think as close as we are and we'll always be close, I'm not sure I was the right person for that job right now. You have to be all in, and it has to be the right fit and has to be right fit for them, too. Because of our relationship they were easy conversations.
"To do the job correctly you have to be ready to do it all day every day. I was genuinely excited about the St. Louis job, and when it didn't happen, it allowed me to step back and rethink and, 'Ok, what do I need to do now?' It's not anything like ... the Cubs job is one of the premiere jobs out there. With Theo and [GM Jed Hoyer] there, they're going to win. May not be tomorrow, but they're going to win."
Francona has been approached about broadcasting positions by multiple major networks and said he is intrigued by the possibility.
"I'm going to explore some things in broadcasting and see where it leads,'' he said. "It may be a way to stay in the game, enjoy it and also be able to step back and look at things.''
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