Ex-Reds player should be considered as potential replacement if David Bell is fired

There's a little less than two weeks remaining before the end of the 2024 regular season and the question that so many Cincinnati Reds fans are waiting to have answered centers around manager David Bell. Will the Reds skipper be back next season or not?

Even Bell's most ardent supporters are having a hard time seeing him return in 2025, but he does have two years left on his current deal. Bell's critics, of whom there are many, are eyeing September 29th as the manager's final day at the helm. However, there's a chance that those folks could be sorely disappointed.

If Bell is let go, the list of potential replacements could be rather long. One name who's sure to get a lot of play is current Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker. During his playing career, Schumaker's final two Major League seasons came while wearing a Reds uniform.

Could Skip Schumaker replace David Bell as the Reds manager in 2025?

Schumaker's current deal is set to expire after the 2024 season, and the Marlins' skipper has no desire to return to that mess in South Beach. Schumaker led the Fish to the playoffs last season, but as they're prone to do, the Marlins' front office failed to put together a winning team and Miami is on track to lose 100 games this season.

But the team's win-loss record cannot be laid at Schumaker's feet. Injuries decimated the Marlins' rotation before the season even began. The Marlins lost Cy Young contender Sandy Alcantara, as well as Jesús Luzardo, Braxton Garrett, and Ryan Weathers. Miami, knowing there was little hope to compete this season, began to sell off assets. The Marlins traded away two-time batting champion Luis Arráez. reliever A.J Puk, and closer Tanner Scott.

Schumaker won the NL Manager of the Year Award last season and was part of two World Series championship teams during his tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals. Schumaker's coaching career has seen him spend time with both the Cardinals and San Diego Padres organizations before landing in Miami two years ago.

If Bell is fired after the season, expect to hear Schumaker's name tossed about. However, the Reds might not be the only team in the market for Schumaker's services. Alex Cora was set to become a free agent this offseason as well, but the Boston Red Sox have since re-signed him to contract extension. It's a good bet that the Chicago White Sox will be looking for an upgrade, and a number of pundits are beginning to wonder about Oliver Marmol's future in the Cardinals' dugout.

Seeing as how the Reds would still be paying the remainder of Bell's salary for the next two seasons, it's difficult to envision Cincinnati getting into a bidding war for Schumaker's services. But one has to imagine that he'll be on the Reds' shortlist if Bell is fired after the season.

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