Remember when Terry Francona sat in for Tim McCarver in October for the first 2 games of the American League Championship Series matchup between the Rangers & Tigers on FOX Sports? Well, it turns out that the former 2-time World Series winning Red Sox manager will trade in a lineup card for a microphone next season full time.

Francona has signed on with ESPN as an analyst on many of the network's platforms both nationally & locally in Boston. He made his debut a couple nights ago during the network's coverage of the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas, but it's only the beginning.

Francona will be one of the rotating analysts on ESPN's Bristol, CT-based studio show "Baseball Tonight". Terry will also replace Bobby Valentine as the third man in the TV booth alongside Dan Shulman & Orel Hershiser next season on "Sunday Night Baseball" next spring & summer. Valentine, of course, was hired a few days ago as Francona's replacement as Red Sox manager.

In addition to his work on "Baseball Tonight", "SportsCenter" & "Sunday Night Baseball", Francona will also serve as an analyst on ESPN/ABC's exclusive coverage of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, become a frequent contributor on ESPN Radio's national sports talk radio shows, and provide online contributions to both ESPN and ESPNBoston.com. Needless to say, ESPN Executive V.P. of Production Norby Williamson is excited to have Francona joining the "Worldwide Leader" for the 2012 season.

What else did ESPN have to give up in the trade with the Bosox, hopefully Stuart Scott.

I wonder if ESPN remembered his comments about Victor Martinez's son being the most comfortable kid he had every seen in just shower shoes.

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That's my purse! I don't know you!

Unfortunately, Stuart Scott wasn't included in the deal with Boston. Besides, Bobby Valentine left for the Red Sox on his own terms.