Reds fire manager David Bell

Field Level Media|published: Sun 22nd September, 22:47 2024

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds

Sep 22, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell (25) reacts after a play in the ninth inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds fired manager David Bell on Sunday night with just five games remaining in the 2024 season.

Cincinnati bench coach Freddie Benavides will serve as interim manager.

"David provided the kind of steadiness that we needed in our clubhouse over the last few seasons," Reds president of baseball operations Nick 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."

Bell, 52, had signed a three-year extension with the club in July 2023, a deal that was supposed to keep him in Cincinnati through the 2026 campaign.

In six seasons managing the Reds (2019-24), Bell led the team to a 409-456 record. Cincinnati made the playoffs once during Bell's tenure -- during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The Reds are 76-81 and have already been eliminated from postseason contention. They are set to open a two-game series with the host Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.

--Field Level Media