The Cincinnati Reds dismissed manager David Bell on Sunday night after six seasons. The announcement came shortly after the team’s 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bench coach Freddie Benavides has been named interim manager for the final five games of the season.
“David brought the stability we needed in the clubhouse over the past few seasons, but we believe a change is necessary to advance the Major League team. We haven’t achieved the success we aimed for, and it’s time to start looking ahead to 2025,” said Nick Krall, President of Baseball Operations, in a statement on the Reds’ website.
With just a week remaining in the season, the Reds have a record of 76-81 and sit fourth in the NL Central, 13.5 games behind the division-leading Milwaukee Brewers. They will conclude the season with five road games, starting with a two-game series in Cleveland on Tuesday and Wednesday, followed by three games in Chicago against the Cubs.
David Bell, 52, was hired by the Reds in October 2018 and finished with a record of 409-456 during his six seasons.
In 2020, the Reds reached the postseason in his second year, which was limited to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2021 season saw the team finish with a respectable 83-79 record, placing third in the National League Central, and second baseman Jonathan India earned the National League Rookie of the Year award that year.
However, in 2022, the Reds lost 100 games for the first time in four decades. They bounced back in 2023 with an 82-80 record, despite players missing a record 650 games due to injuries.
The season began with high expectations, but Bell and the team struggled to deliver. In May, an eight-game losing streak put them five games under .500. They rebounded with a seven-game winning streak in June, bringing them within one game of .500, but they were unable to maintain that momentum.
This inconsistency plagued them throughout the season. Although they swept the Yankees in a three-game series in New York from July 2-4, they quickly lost their rhythm again.
The Reds appeared poised for a postseason push after sweeping the Cardinals from August 12-14, which improved their record to 60-61 and placed them in a tie for second in the NL Central with St. Louis, just six games behind a wild-card spot.
However, inconsistency set in again, and Bell lost three of his top starting pitchers—Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott—to injuries. Cincinnati finished September with a record of 12-8.
During Bell’s tenure, the Reds cultivated a promising group of players, including India, Greene, Elly De La Cruz, and Matt McLain, who were expected to help the team succeed. Despite this, Cincinnati struggled to take the next step.
Bell is now the third manager to be dismissed this season. The Chicago White Sox fired Pedro Grifol and three coaches on August 8, right after the team ended a 21-game losing streak that tied the American League record. The Seattle Mariners also let go of Scott Servais on August 22 during his ninth season with the team.
Nick Krall plans to address the media on Monday at Great American Ball Park.
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