How Reds' muted trade deadline approach may have saved David Bell's job

The Cincinnati Reds were rather quiet at the MLB trade deadline. Sure, the Reds dealt Frankie Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers and sent Lucas Sims to the Boston Red Sox, but there were more moves that could have been made.

Surely Nick Martinez drew some attention, right? Jonathan India's name was tossed about for weeks leading up to the trade deadline, but Cincinnati obviously didn't garner a deal that they felt comfortable with. Instead of focusing on 2025, the Reds appear to be still trying to win ball games this season. And while some may scoff at the idea, it's not a bad thing.

The Reds aren't out of playoff contention just yet, but every loss brings this team closer to winding up on the wrong side of .500 at season's end. But did the Reds' trade deadline approach effectively save David Bell's job? There are a number of Reds fans who hope that's not the case, but any sort of late-season run could ensure that Bell returns in 2025.

How Reds' muted trade deadline approach may have saved David Bell's job

Had the Reds traded away the likes of Martinez, India, Justin Wilson, Buck Farmer, or Alexis Dìaz, Cincinnati's chances of competing over the final two months of the season would be all but gone. The Reds have struggled to win consistently this season, but a July sell-off would've killed clubhouse morale and the product on the field would have suffered.

Instead, president of baseball operations Nick Krall decided to give this team a chance. Now, he didn't give them any real assistance — a player like Lane Thomas or Randy Arozarena would've helped to energize the locker room — but by not completely tearing down the roster, Cincinnati still has the means to compete down the stretch.

The pessimistic Reds fan will cite the team's record in one-run games, lack of run support, and Bell's managerial tactics as reasons Cincinnati has no shot to enter the playoff conversation. The optimistic Reds fan, however, will see Matt McLain readying for a return, Hunter Greene's Cy Young-type season, and the relatively weak National League picture as reason to believe in a turnaround.

The Reds front office didn't do anything to help Bell win games over the final couple of months of the season, but they didn't do anything to hurt his chances either. If Bell can help lead the Reds to a respectable win-loss record by the end of the season, considering the number of injuries this team has suffered in 2024, he could retain his job. But if Cincinnati falls hopelessly out of the playoff race by mid-August, the Reds' skipper will be on the hot seat.

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