CINCINNATI, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- Terry Francona is set to end his brief retirement from baseball to become the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Sources told ESPN, MLB.com and The Athletic about the hiring Thursday night.

Major League Baseball prefers any off-field news to not conflict with the playoffs. The first playoff game Monday is scheduled for 4:08 p.m. The three-time Manager of the Year, who guided two Boston Red Sox teams to world championships and the 2016 Indians to Game 7 of the World Series,

Terry Francona, who guided the Boston Red Sox to two World Series titles, was hired Friday as manager of the Cincinnati Reds on a three-year Major League Baseball contract.