The Cincinnati Reds are looking to build off a strong 2025 season. With Terry Francona leading the way as the manager, Cincinnati could make another competitive run sooner rather than later. If the Reds can win 92 or 93 games in 2026, Francona will enter historic territory as well. 

At the moment, Francona is 12th in all-time wins for an MLB manager with a mark of 2,033. The legendary head coach has the most wins among active managers. He is only seven victories behind Walter Alston for 11th place all-time. Francona will pass Alston in 2026, but he also has an opportunity to enter the top 10 as well.

Joe McCarthy is currently 10th all-time with 2,125 wins, meaning Francona needs 92 wins to tie McCarthy's mark. If the Reds can win 93 games this year, Francona would take sole possession of 10th place. 

The Reds won 83 games a season ago. A nine or 10 win improvement will be a challenge. With that being said, the ball club is returning a fairly similar roster and slugger Eugenio Suarez is now on the team. It would not be surprising by any means to see Cincinnati add on to their win total from a season ago.

Nevertheless, winning 92 or 93 games will be difficult. If there is any manager in baseball who could lead this specific Reds ball club to such a season, though, it is Francona. 

Francona, 66, has managed at the MLB level since 1997. He endured a rocky start to his career, having a number of up and down campaigns with the Philadelphia Phillies. Francona managed Philadelphia from '97 until 2000.

The skipper returned as a manager in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox. Baseball fans know exactly what happened that year, as Francona and the Red Sox broke The Curse of the Bambino and won their first World Series since 1918.

Francona would manage in Boston through the 2011 campaign, leading the Sox to another championship in 2007.

Francona took on a different challenge in 2013. He had previously managed in large markets, but the skipper took over the Cleveland Indians' (now Cleveland Guardians) job in 2013. Francona almost helped Cleveland snap a drought of its own, as the Guardians reached Game 7 of the World Series in 2016 before eventually falling to the Chicago Cubs. 

Cleveland has still not won a World Series since 1948, but Francona led the team to consistent success throughout his tenure with the Guardians, as he managed the team from 2013-2023. 

After taking a year off in 2024, Francona returned as a manager once again with the Reds in 2025. He had a strong first campaign, helping the Reds make a Wild Card run. Francona is hoping to help Cincinnati win its first World Series championship since 1990. 

And whether it is this year or next year, Terry Francona will likely end up on the top 10 all-time manager wins list soon.