Heard something about this earlier this morning at the Sox minor league complex, but the Sox just came across with the news down here at Fort Myers. More later...

FORT MYERS, FL—The Boston Red Sox today announced that the club and manager Terry Francona have agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension through 2011. The deal also includes a two-year club option for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. No further terms were disclosed.

The announcement as made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Theo Epstein.

“On behalf of John Henry, Tom Werner, Larry Lucchino, and the Red Sox organization, I am very pleased to make this announcement,” commented Epstein. “Terry Francona has done an outstanding job in managing the Red Sox over the last four seasons. This is demonstrated not only in the three playoff appearances and two World Series victories but also in the way in which he handles the demands of managing in Boston on a day-to-day basis, both on and off the field. It also represents a strong and sincere commitment by our ownership.”

“I want to thank the Red Sox ownership and management for their tremendous support,” said Francona. “From the resources provided by the ownership group and front office to a great collection of players and the passion and loyalty of the fans, there is no doubt that Boston is the best place to manage in the major leagues. I look forward to being in a Red Sox uniform for many years to come.”  

Francona has posted a 375-273 record in four years as the Red Sox manager, the second most victories of any major league skipper in that span. His .579 winning percentage is second best in team history among all managers with at least 350 games, and he is one three Red Sox skippers to win at least 95 games twice, joining Joe McCarthy (1948-49) and Don Zimmer (1977-78).

His .710 (22-9) winning percentage in post-season play is the highest in major league history among managers with at least 20 playoff games managed. Francona is the first Red Sox manager to ever guide a team to three post-season appearances. With World Series victories in 2004 and 2007, he is just the eighth manager to win a World Championship in each of his first two visits to the fall classic. With four-game sweeps over St. Louis in 2004 and Colorado in 2007, he owns the most World Series wins (8) without a loss of any manager in history.

Overall, Francona has a 660-636 record in eight years as a major league manager with Philadelphia (1997-2000) and Boston (2004-07).   

Francona signed a three-year contract with a one-year option when he was appointed as the 44^th manager in Red Sox history on December 4, 2003. He received a two-year extension through 2008 on March 14, 2006.