Guardians notes: Team president Chris Antonetti addresses manager Terry Francona's likely retirement

CLEVELAND — Wearing a blank expression on his face, team president Chris Antonetti met with reporters Wednesday to discuss manager Terry Francona's comments regarding his impending retirement. Citing health concerns as the overriding cause, Francona all but announced prior to Tuesday's game that he would step down at the end of the season. "I think we've been pretty clear in our preferences and that was we wanted Tito to manage here or want Tito to manage here for as long as he's able to, and it doesn't conflict with his overall well-being, his fulfillment and happiness," Antonetti said. "And if there ever came a point in time where his well-being, his fulfillment, his health started to conflict with his job, we would have to relook at things, and at that point we could start thinking about what's next. "The most important thing and the thing I and we care about the most is Tito's life after this and beyond baseball. And we want to make sure he's well positioned to enjoy every moment with his kids and his grandkids and everyone for a long time." When asked if he has considered life without Francona, who has managed Cleveland since 2013, Antonetti said, "I don't want to think about that yet." Though Francona has been healthy enough to manage the team since the start of last year, he's undergone multiple medical procedures during his tenure in Cleveland — missing extended time in 2020-21. There's more on the way in the upcoming offseason, according to Francona. "When the season's over I need to get my shoulder replaced and that's a pretty lengthy (procedure), and I also have to have two hernia (surgeries)," he said. "So, it's like every winter I've been trying to get healthy for the season, then I get beat up. I need to go get healthy for a life and this lifestyle is just too difficult. Just being logical, trying to be logical, just doesn't make a lot of sense." Antonetti has seen Francona go through all the health hardships. "He's one of the toughest individuals that I've ever been around," Antonetti said. "The things he's endured and experienced over the last few years, I continue to be amazed that he's been able to continue to do the job and do the job the way he does in such an extraordinary way. "I can't think of many people who would be able to get through what he got through, one, and then be able to do that and do his job as well as he does. It's almost inconceivable to me. I know I couldn't do it." Antonetti said he won't look to 2024 until this season is complete. "I mean, the reality is right now all of our focus is on the next six weeks of regular-season games," Antonetti said. "That's all we can do during the season is try to prepare and win as many games as we can and help this group develop. And once we get to the offseason, there's a new set of things that we'll be focused on and at that point we'll revisit things with Tito, see where his head is, and take the appropriate steps then." Short stuff Antonetti said the shortstop derby between Gabriel Arias, Tyler Freeman and Brayan Rocchio will likely continue into next spring. "I would say with each of these guys, the path we're currently on, all of them will continue to be in the organization throughout the course of the winter, in spring training next year and beyond, so we don't have to make any sort of definitive decisions in the next few weeks of the season," Antonetti said. "I think our job is to help them each be the best each of them can possibly be, and if we do that well enough, hopefully we have a number of great options and there's some great competition as we move forward." Arias has received the most reps thus far, but has struggled at the plate, entering Wednesday batting .199 over 90 games. Freeman has spent time on the injured list and was hitting .273 in 39 games through Tuesday. Rocchio was at .258 over 18 games. Double threat Though Wednesday's starter Xzavion Curry will likely continue to pitch out of the rotation for the remainder of the season, the Guardians haven't ruled out the right-hander returning to a relief role. "I think, fortunately for the organization, he can probably do both," Francona said. "I think he's showing that. Some of it could be dependent on who the other guys are in the rotation. I wouldn't view it as a problem. It'd be a nice challenge to figure out where he best fits, but he fits." Due to a wealth of injuries, Curry made the opening day roster and pitched out of the bullpen, posting a 3.06 ERA in 25 appearances. With injuries again playing a part, he transitioned into a starter (3.60 ERA over six starts through Tuesday). "He was a critical member of the bullpen when he was pitching in that role, and then the team need kind of dictated that he gets some starting opportunities and he's done a tremendous job of that," Antonetti said. "And having a pitcher like that that's capable of succeeding in either role is really invaluable to us as we look at building our, not only the balance of this year's team, but future teams." Doctor's office Cal Quantrill is expected to be activated following his final minor league rehab appearance for Columbus on Saturday, but Francona wouldn't confirm the right-hander's return to the rotation."Quantrill's going to pitch Saturday in Columbus and then five, six days later, then we will have that (decision) and we'll map that out, just not yet," Francona said. Roundin' third Cleveland's bullpen entered Wednesday allowing only 20.8 percent (32-of-154) of its inherited runners to score, the lowest in baseball. At 8 percent (2-of-25), lefyt-hander Sam Hentges led the majors through Tuesday, while right-hander Nick Sandlin ranked second at 11.4 percent (4-of-35). ** Thursday, 1:10, BSGL; WEOL 930-AM and 100.3-FM, WTAM 1100-AM. Williams (1-4, 3.02) vs. Pepiot (0-0, 1.80). Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @CAwesomeheimer.