Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell. Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Reds make managerial change with five games remaining

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Larry Brown | Last updated Sep 23, 2024 4:17 AM ET

The Cincinnati Reds announced big news on Sunday night.

The NL Central squad fired sixth-year manager David Bell. The team has named bench coach Freddie Benavides their interim manager for the season's final five games.

The Cincinnati Reds fired manager David Bell barely a year after giving him a contract extension through the 2026 season.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) September 23, 2024

The news is surprising, considering the team had given Bell a three-year contract extension last offseason, which ran through 2026. One likely explanation for the move is that the team’s leadership must have felt the squad underachieved this year.

The Reds appeared to be on the right track when they went 82-80 last season, a year after going 62-100. There was excitement surrounding the team thanks to prospects like Elly De La Cruz, Hunter Greene, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer. But the team has slipped in 2024 and was a disappointing 76-81 at the time of Bell’s firing.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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