Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Terry Francona, two-time World Champion manager of the Boston Red Sox, has joined ESPN as a baseball analyst, a role which will include serving as a broadcaster for Sunday Night Baseball.

Francona will join Dan Shulman and Orel Hershiser in the Sunday Night Baseball booth, replacing current Red Sox manager and former ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine.

Francona will also provide analysis for Baseball Tonight, among other news and information shows, and ESPN’s coverage of the Little League World Series.

Additionally, he will be a featured guest on ESPN Radio’s national shows and contributor to ESPN.com and ESPNBoston.com.

“Terry is a brilliant baseball mind, with two World Series rings over the last eight seasons, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to our team,” said Norby Williamson, executive vice president, production at ESPN.

“I’m excited to join ESPN and to be able to talk about my passion for baseball with fans who love the game as much as me,” said Francona. “In some ways, I’ll be a rookie all over again, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Francona provided analysis for Fox Sports during the American League Championship Series in 2011.

Francona managed the Red Sox for eight seasons (2004-11), leading the team to a pair of World Series championships (2004; 2007) and a record of 744-552. He previously managed the Philadelphia Phillies from 1997-2000.

Francona’s tenure in Boston ended following the Red Sox’s late season collapse that resulted in the team missing the postseason after holding a nine-game wild-card lead in September.

–ESPN