Breaking: Reds fire manager David Bell

The Reds were 409-456 with Bell as manager.

As another fruitless season comes to an end, the Cincinnati Reds found a way to be relevant in the baseball world the only way they could in late September: They fired manager David Bell.

Hired in 2018 to replace David Price, the Reds went 409-456 in the six seasons with Bell at the helm. Despite winning records in 3 of his 6 seasons, the Reds finished his tenure without a postseason series victory, just as they had with every other manager since 1995. Despite finishing above .500 in 3 of his 6 seasons, the Reds made only had one post-season appearance under Bell, in a covid-shortened, expanded playoffs 2020 season where they were promptly shut out in both games by the Atlanta Braves.

While not surprising, the timing of the firing is a little peculiar. It comes just over a year after he was extended through the 2026 season during a 2023 run that saw the Reds in first place in the National League Central at the trade deadline. A trade deadline, as you all remember, that the front office opted to hold steady on a pitching staff that was injured, fatigued, and giving up runs, leading to yet another missed post-season. Also, with just 5 games left in the 2024 season, you have to wonder why the Reds couldn’t have waited another week.

While Bell had his faults, there is plenty of blame to go around as to why the Reds were unsuccessful in 2024. In a season that seemed to be doomed from the start with the suspension of Noelvi Marte and injury to Matt McLain, along with spending money in all the wrong places, it’s no surprise, though, that David Bell was the latest scapegoat under the Castelleni reign. Hopefully, when the Reds inevitably miss the playoffs again under the next manager, the ownership will look for the next scapegoat in the mirror instead of the dugout.

Freddy Benavides will take over for the Reds as they hit the road for the final 5 games of the season.