Reds firing David Bell comes with hefty price tag

The Cincinnati Reds thought so little of David Bell's ability to lead this ball club going forward that they were willing to pay him nearly $5 million to go away. Sources revealed that the Reds owe Bell $4.9 million over the next two years after signing the former skipper to a three-year, $7.2 million contract extension last summer.

Bell's contract was terminated last Sunday and the Reds are now searching for Bell's replacement. The now former Reds manager had six seasons at the helm, but outside of a trip to the playoffs during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Cincinnati never made it to the MLB Postseason under Bell's watch.

Despite Bell's lack of success, the Reds handed him two separate contract extensions; both of which came after winning campaigns. Bell's win-loss record as Cincinnati's manager was an unimpressive 409-456. However, not even Sparky Anderson could have led that 2022 team to a winning record.

The Reds still owe David Bell nearly $5 million

Bell's hefty price tag will undoubtedly influence the Reds' managerial search, and if you think otherwise, you obviously don't know how the Castellini family does business. Cincinnati's ownership group is notoriously stingy, and it's a good bet that the Reds will not get into a bidding war for some of the top managers on the market.

Will that take Skip Schumaker off the table? That remains to be seen. The Reds are reportedly vetting several candidates ahead of interviews next week. In addition to Schumaker, current Reds interim manager Freddie Benavides is known to be an in-house option, and Cincinnati is rumored to be looking at former Chicago Cubs skipper David Ross as well.

It's hard to see the Reds offering Benavides anything more than a courtesy interview. Bell's former bench coach was handed the reins for the final five games of the 2024 season, but with Reds players like Jonathan India voicing their desire for a change, it's difficult to see Benavides taking over on a permanent basis.

Schumaker's time with the Miami Marlins is now up and Ross was unceremoniously fired by the Cubs last offseason after Chicago made Craig Counsell the highest-paid manger in the game. More names will emerge next week, and it'll be curious how many first-time applicants the Reds bring into town for an interview.

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