CLEVELAND -- Terry Francona's contract extension would have been completed earlier if it weren't for one slight hitch -- he didn't know what his proposal to general manager Chris Antonetti should be since Francona didn't know how much he was making.
If only other bosses had that luxury.
"I thought about it for a couple days and I emailed him, 'Before I send you a proposal I need you to email me with what I'm making now.' I didn't know," said Francona in a conference call on Tuesday after he agreed to a two-year extension that carries him through 2018. "On one hand that's not intelligent on my part but on the other it shows once I sign a contract I'm comfortable and don't look back. That's where I wanted to be with this one too.
"It was sort of a funny way of saying once I sign it I don't care about it and do baseball. I'm not good about it or how to do it. I don't want to be in an adversarial role. Chris was great about it. He did all the work. I know Mark (team president Mark Shapiro) had a ton to do with it too and walked me through it and made it very easy for it."
Besides the two-year extension to the original deal, there is a club option for 2019 and '20 which would mean if Francona sees the duration of the contract, he would be 61. Antonetti would not address if there are out clauses similar to the ones that existed for Joe Madden when key executives moved on.
When Francona was hired on Oct. 8, 2012, even the most hearty of optimists wouldn't have predicted consecutive winning seasons for the first time since 2000-01 and an appearance in the AL Wild Card game.
Francona, who is 177-148 the past two years, is also the first Indians manager since Charlie Manuel to have a winning record in his first two years at the helm. Manuel though inherited a postseason contender. What did Francona inherit? A club that lost 94 games in 2012 and went 18-41 the last two months.
The only team that had a worse record in the American League over the same stretch was Boston, who fired Francona the year before. The Red Sox though had a veteran core and money to spend as a big-market club which could bring a quick turnaround. The Tribe had a lot of youth and a small-market reputation that had alienated fans who had seen stars shipped away for prospects that had produced minimal results.
Francona though welcomed that. Last season he won AL Manager of the Year honors after leading the Tribe to the postseason and a 24-win improvement.
There are many, including me, who would say he did an even better job this past season considering the rotation was shaky until the last months and that 12 rookies saw significant playing time. Dating back to 2004, teams that Francona has managed have posted winning records 10 consecutive seasons (eight in Boston, two in Cleveland). That is the longest such managerial streak since Joe Torre had 14 straight with the Yankees and Dodgers from 1996-2009.
"We've talked about how many challenges that come with this job. Not just on the field, but in the organization. Being part of the solution long term is what I really wanted to be," Francona said. "I just didn't want to come here for a couple of years and move on. That was never my goal."
Added Antonetti about Francona's first two seasons: "That consistency and the way he approaches each day allows him to maintain that success from year to year. I know our record wasn't as good this year. Maybe we had a few more things go our way in 2013 but Tito's effort and the way he obsessed about putting players in position to be successful was the same."
Also, to show how the upheaval in Cleveland sports the past four years, Francona is the longest-tenured pro coach in town.
Francona remarked about how when he went to his first Winter Meetings with the organization that it was "rough duty". Next month's trip to San Diego should fare much better. With Francona's extension, that also means that the core group which includes Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Yan Gomes and Corey Kluber are under team control through 2018.
"We're not the finished product and we know it. But we're getting better and we still want to get a lot better," Francona said. "We're going in the right direction. There is a core group of guys that are not only really good players, but exceptional people. That bodes well for us."
Headed into free agency that core and Francona's reputation as a player's manager should serve as valuable recruiting tools. Before signing this extension, Francona surveyed the clubhouse to make sure the players were on board.
With the desire to fortify the pitching staff, team defense and possibly add a power bat, Antonetti continues to see Francona as an asset in attracting free agents because of the environment he fosters in the clubhouse.
At first, Francona discounted his role, saying it ultimately comes down to money for players. However he later said: "I do hope this is a place where players want to come. That we're competitive in offers and guys know that they and their families are going to be treated well and we're going to enjoy playing there."
When it comes to next season, Francona already sounds like he is ready to go, which surprised him a little bit since the older you get, the longer it takes to recuperate from the year. Francona and bench coach Brad Mills were on a golfing trip in San Diego a couple weeks ago where most of the conversation was about Spring Training.
Francona has also built quite a staff. Sandy Alomar and Kevin Cash interviewed for managerial openings last month while pitching coach Mickey Callaway could get some interviews the next couple years if the staff continues to develop.
Alomar, who many thought would get the job after 2012, has learned a few things from Francona that should serve him well when he gets his shot.
"He lets them play and tries to maximize their abilities. He doesn't put them in situations to fail. He's calm and collected, doesn't panic," said Alomar of Francona. "The most difficult part of what I see managing is getting guys motivated to play for you and he does that very well."
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