The Cincinnati Reds have officially parted ways with manager David Bell after a six-season tenure that saw a mix of highs and lows.
This decision came shortly after the team suffered a 2-0 defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates, prompting the Reds to appoint bench coach Freddie Benavides as the interim manager for the remaining five games of the season.
In a statement on the Reds’ official website, President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall acknowledged Bell’s contributions, saying, “David provided the kind of steadiness that we needed in our clubhouse over the last few seasons. 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.”
As the season nears its end, the Reds hold a record of 76-81, placing them fourth in the NL Central, trailing division champion Milwaukee by 13.5 games. Cincinnati will conclude the season with five away games, starting with a two-game series in Cleveland before heading to Chicago for three games against the Cubs.
At 52 years old, Bell was hired by the Reds in October 2018. Over his six seasons, he compiled a 409-456 record, making him the third manager to be let go this season.
During his second season in 2020, Bell led the Reds to a postseason appearance, even though that year was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and limited to just 60 games.
Krall is scheduled to address the media on Monday at Great American Ball Park, where he is expected to elaborate on the team’s future direction.
