Cincinnati Reds Part Ways with Manager David Bell After Six Seasons
The Cincinnati Reds have fired manager David Bell, ending a six-year tenure with the organization. Bell, who was under contract through the 2026 season, leaves behind a managerial record of 409-456, amounting to a .473 winning percentage.
Despite leading the team to the postseason during the shortened 2020 season, Bell's tenure was marked by inconsistency. While the Reds concluded the 2023 season with a winning record under his guidance, the following year saw a significant decline. The 2024 season proved especially challenging, with the Reds finishing fourth in the National League Central and ending the year with a 76-81 record. This came after a dismal 62-100 performance in 2022.
The decision to part ways with Bell was not made lightly. Reds' General Manager Nick Krall remarked on the steadiness Bell brought to the clubhouse but emphasized the need for a shake-up to ignite the team's future success. "David provided the kind of steadiness that we needed in our clubhouse over the last few seasons,” Krall said. “We felt a change was needed to move the major-league team forward. We have not achieved the success we expected, and we need to begin focusing on 2025."
In the interim, Freddie Benavides will step in as the manager for the final five games of the season. Benavides, drafted by the Reds as an infielder in 1987, had been serving as Bell’s bench coach since 2019. His familiarity with the team and its dynamics could provide some continuity during this transitional period.
Bell's impact on the Reds is notable in several respects. As the 62nd manager in franchise history, his 409 wins place him eighth among Reds managers. However, his 456 losses rank fourth and underscore the mixed results of his tenure. The firing of Bell marks him as the third managerial casualty of the 2024 season, following Pedro Grifol of the White Sox and Scott Servais of the Mariners, both of whom were relieved of their duties in August 2024.
The Reds now face the critical task of finding a permanent replacement for Bell. The decision will be pivotal as the organization looks to turn the page and lay the groundwork for what it hopes will be a more successful future. With Krall’s focus shifting towards the 2025 season, the selection of the next manager will be a critical step in the rebuilding process.