Sources: Terry Francona out in Boston

Terry Francona will be out in Boston according to several MLB sources. Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports says the decision will likely come sometime this morning.

While Francona’s departure is not certain, it is the likely outcome, in part because he is pressing for a resolution, sources say. He would not be fired; the Red Sox would simply decline their club options on him for 2012 and ’13.

At that point, Francona would be free to pursue long-term contracts with other clubs. The White Sox’s position currently is open, and Francona managed five seasons in their minor-league system in the early 1990s.

In eight seasons with the Red Sox, Francona has made the playoffs five times with two World Series titles. But since 2008, the team has not a series and has been third in the AL East for two straight seasons.

Last week, Boston insider Peter Gammons hinted that there was “an increasing disconnect” between Francona and Red Sox GM Theo Epstein. Gammons stopped short of saying that Francona would be let go, but given his close ties to organization insiders, the statement seemed ominous.

Regardless of the reason, expect Francona to be scooped up by another MLB team–perhaps the White Sox.

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