The Cincinnati Reds have fired manager David Bell with five games left in the 2024 regular season.
Following a dismal 100-loss campaign in 2022, the Reds finished 82-80 the following season which put them in playoff contention until the final week of the season. Bell had received a three-year contract extension in July of that season as the team appeared to be headed in the right direction. With a young core led by shortstop Elly De La Cruz and a pitching staff that included promising arms such as Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williams, the Reds appeared to be a contender for the National League Central this season.
Unfortunately, the season did not go the way the team had hoped for. A series of injuries and a slumping hitting core has led to the Reds currently out of the playoff picture and fourth in the National League Central, resulting in Bell’s firing. The team has named bench coach Freddie Benavides as the interim manager for the last five games of the season.
Bell had been hired as manager of the Reds in October of 2018 on a three-year contract with an option for a fourth. While his first season saw the Reds finish 75-89 and miss the playoffs, the abbreviated COVID-19 campaign led to a 31-29 season that had the Reds finish second in the National League Central. The team made the postseason but were swept by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Wild Card Series.
In the season following the playoff appearance, the Reds finished 83-79 in 2021 but still finished third in their division. After sticking with Bell following a 100-loss campaign, the team saw a youth movement that had many eager for the future of Reds baseball. However, the team took a step back this season which ultimately led to Bell’s exit.
The candidate most likely to replace Bell is Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, who is expected to depart at the end of the season. Schumaker guided the Marlins to the playoffs in the 2023 season where they lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the National League Wild Card Series. However, the team has taken a major step back this season as they currently hold the worst record in the National League. Despite the disappointing campaign, the Reds and Schumaker could begin to hold talks directly after the end of the regular season.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41390092/cincinnati-reds-fire-manager-david-bell
https://athlonsports.com/mlb/cincinnati-reds-potential-manager-replacement-emerges-skip-schumaker
