3 bold moves the Reds could make before May 1

3. Bold move the Reds could make before May 1: Fire David Bell.

Now, this is one that I personally do not subscribe to, but I know it'll be popular among a certain section of Reds fans. While David Bell is not the greatest manager to ever walk the planet, he is not the problem.

Cleveland Guardians skipper Terry Francona is arguably the best manager in baseball, and he'd struggle to have this team anywhere in the ballpark of .500 given the roster that Cincinnati has rolled out to begin the 2023 season.

But, if the Reds front office and ownership are looking to send a message to the clubhouse, perhaps relieving Bell of his duties would light a fire. Obviously, bench coach Freddie Benevides would take over managerial duties for the remainder of the season in this scenario.

The question that arises from this bold move, however, is this - what are you hoping to accomplish by firing David Bell? Is it going to result in more wins? it's possible. It sure helped the Philadelphia Phillies last season after letting go of Joe Girardi.

But this situation is very different. The Phillies were a championship-contender who was floundering. The Reds are a rebuilding franchise that's going through growing pains. I know that's not what fans want to hear, but it's the truth.

David Bell's contract is up at the end of the season. The respectful thing to do would be for the Cincinnati Reds to honor their agreement and part ways with Bell after the season should they deem a change in leadership is necessary. Bold move? Sure. Correct move? Not really.