The Reds have announced the departure of manager David Bell. The team’s bench coach, Freddie Benavides, will take over as interim manager for the remainder of the season.
In a statement to the media, president of baseball operations Nick Krall stated, “David provided stability to our clubhouse in recent seasons. However, we felt a change was necessary to move the Major League team forward as we have not met our expected success and need to focus on the future.”
Bell’s time as Cincinnati’s manager ends just shy of six full seasons. During his tenure, the Reds had three winning seasons, including a playoff berth in the shortened 2020 season, an 83-win campaign in 2021, and an 82-win season in 2023. Despite signs of progress, a disappointing 2024 season ultimately led to the end of Bell’s tenure.
The Reds are now considering Marlins manager Skip Schumaker as a potential replacement for Bell. Schumaker, who previously played for the Reds, led Miami to the playoffs in 2023 but is expected to depart at the end of the season.
Benavides, a longtime member of the Reds organization, will take over as interim manager. He has been part of the coaching staff since 2016 and has experience as a player with the Reds in the Major Leagues.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images
