**Related Video Above: Guardians’ Terry Francona reunited with stolen scooter earlier this year.**
CLEVELAND (WJW) — Following one of the most head-shaking Cleveland Guardians losses in recent memory Labor Day, manager Terry “Tito” Francona confessed that it could be time to hang it up.
Over the couple weeks, the 64-year-old’s been hinting at retirement, even making public plans for multiple surgeries in the offseason, but he’s never said anything to the effect of: “I am retiring without a doubt.”
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona looks on during spring training baseball workouts for pitchers and catchers in Avondale, Ariz., in this Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, file photo. Indians manager Terry Francona recently underwent surgery for a staph infection in his toe and will be on crutches for several weeks in training camp. Francona said Friday, Feb. 19, 2021, that he was being treated for gout this winter when doctors discovered the infection, which was excised. He spent 10 days in the Cleveland Clinic before returning to Arizona.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File) 
Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona looks on during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, April 22, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) 
Manager Terry Francona #77 of the Cleveland Indians stands in the dugout prior to the game against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images) 
CHICAGO, IL – OCTOBER 28: Manager Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians speaks to the media before Game Three of the 2016 World Series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on October 28, 2016 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
On Aug. 22, the most winningest coach in Cleveland baseball history explained why he didn’t want to explicitly lay out his plans, saying “I don’t want to lie or I don’t want to fib.”
On Tuesday, the skipper spoke with MLB Network Radio, still not exactly setting a decision in stone, but yet admitting he thinks “it’s time.” Here’s what he had to say:
“I’ve been pretty clear with people. I don’t want to have the last month be a send of or a pity party because that’s not how I feel. But, it’s time and my body is telling me that, my head is telling me that and I don’t want to stay on for the wrong reasons. I hope I have too much respect for not just the game, but for this organization to do that. So, I’ve been pretty clear with the guys I work for and told them to start preparing.”
Francona, 64, has been with Cleveland for 11 seasons. He has dealt with multiple health issues over the last few years.
