When the Cincinnati Reds hired Terry Francona following the conclusion of the 2024 season, his task was clear. Turn the club into a contender. That's what Francona has done his entire career, taking teams from the realm of intriguing young ball clubs to the rarified air of perennial competitors.
With a playoff appearance in 2025, you could say he immediately got off on the right foot, but as the Reds were quickly dispatched by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Series, it was clear that they hadn't truly arrived yet.
They were the intriguing team.