The Cincinnati Reds have officially parted ways with manager David Bell just days before the conclusion of the 2024 MLB season, the team announced on Sunday. This decision comes as the Reds, who were eliminated from postseason contention following a 7–1 loss to the Atlanta Braves last Wednesday, prepare to wrap up what has been another disappointing season.
Bell had been at the helm for six seasons, leading the Reds to only one postseason appearance in 2020, a year marked by a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. That playoff run ended quickly, with Cincinnati getting swept in the Wild Card round. Despite glimpses of potential, the team struggled to find consistent success under Bell, which ultimately led to the organization’s decision to move in a new direction.
The timing of Bell’s dismissal is particularly surprising given that the Reds had awarded him a three-year contract extension in July 2023, which was set to keep him with the team through the 2026 season. However, just over a year after signing that extension, the Reds opted to cut ties with their manager. As the team’s current record of 76–81 indicates, Cincinnati has once again fallen short of their postseason goals, prompting this shake-up within the organization.
With Bell’s departure, interim manager Freddie Benavides will take over for the final five games of the season. The Reds are scheduled to face the Cleveland Guardians in a two-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday before concluding the year with a three-game set against their division rivals, the Chicago Cubs, at Wrigley Field. Benavides, 58, is no stranger to the Reds, having served in various coaching capacities over the years.
A former MLB player himself, Benavides had a brief playing career from 1991 to 1994, including two seasons with Cincinnati. He also filled in as interim manager for one game during the 2019 season when Bell was suspended, and now finds himself in the role again, this time overseeing the end of the 2024 campaign.
Bell’s tenure with the Reds ends with a cumulative record of 409–455, including an 0-2 mark in the postseason. While Bell was at the helm during a period of transition and rebuilding for the franchise, the team’s inability to compete consistently in a tough NL Central ultimately sealed his fate. The Reds front office, led by general manager Nick Krall, will now begin the search for a new manager to guide the team forward into the 2025 season and beyond.
For Bell, the move represents the end of a chapter that began in 2019, when he was hired to restore the Reds to their former glory. Although he was highly regarded for his baseball acumen and leadership qualities, the team’s performance on the field never quite matched expectations. The Reds have undergone numerous changes during his tenure, including the development of young talent and the transition of key veterans, but the consistency needed to contend for division titles or playoff spots remained elusive.
As for the Reds, this managerial change signals a desire for a fresh start as the organization looks to rebuild its roster and return to competitiveness in the National League.
With a solid core of young players, Cincinnati will be aiming to find a manager capable of maximizing the team’s potential and leading them back to the postseason in the coming years.
While Bell’s time in Cincinnati has come to an end, his contributions to the team during a challenging period will not be forgotten.
The Reds’ front office now faces the critical task of identifying the right candidate to take the reins and lead the team into a new era.
