Reports: Francona likely out as Red Sox manager

On Thursday, Boston Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said he wouldn't make a scapegoat of skipper Terry Francona after the team's unprecedented September collapse.

But according to reports, Francona may still be packing his bags on Friday.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com, citing "major league sources," reports Francona will meet with Red Sox management on Friday and when that meeting is over, he is expected to be out as Boston's manager.

The Red Sox reportedly have 10 days to decide whether to pick up the manager's two-year option. Rosenthal reports the team will not fire Francona but instead not pick up his options for 2012 and 2013 - at the request of Francona, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

"He has had his fill of the whole thing," a source told the Sun-Times.

As CBSSports.com's C. Trent Rosecrans notes, Francona would be an attractive candidate for the White Sox or the Cubs. Francona started his coaching and managing career in the White Sox system, even serving as the manager of Double-A Birmingham when Michael Jordan played for the White Sox farm team. He has also worked with Chicago pitching coach Don Cooper, who received a four-year extension this week.