UPDATE: Francona is officially no longer with the team per an announcement on MLB.com.

During his eight-year tenure with the Boston Red Sox, skipper Terry Francona achieved what once seemed impossible: he steered the team through the Yankees and the "Curse of the Bambino" all the way to the World Series, which the 2004 Red Sox won in a sweep. In 2007, the Sox won the World Series easily again.

However, the last two seasons, the Sox have finished 3rd in the extremely competitive AL East. This year, the team had an epic September collapse and didn't even make the playoffs, after leading the division for most of the summer. Sure, the Sox had pitching problems that were the result of injuries to key players like Daisuke Matsuzaka and Clay Buchholz. But considering the team also spent over $160 million to deliver a Championship-caliber team (3rd most in the Majors), someone's got to go.

And it looks like Terry Francona is going to be the scapegoat, even though everyone on the team seems to be trying to share the blame.

According to multiple reports, Francona met with the team's management today to discuss his future with Red Sox Nation. His contract has expired but there is a two-year option that could keep him managing the Red Sox.

There have also been rumors that wonderboy GM Theo Epstein could bolt to Chicago and try to deliver a banner to the Championship-starved Cubs.

No official announcements have been made yet.

Do you think it's Francona's fault that the Red Sox missed the playoffs? Does he deserve the boot?