So many managerial vacancies will force the Reds to keep David Bell heading into 2023

Managers Joe Maddon (Los Angeles Angels) , Joe Girardi (Philadelphia Phillies), Charlie Montoya (Toronto Blue Jays), and Chris Woodward (Texas Rangers) have all been fired this season. Don Mattingly will not return to the Miami Marlins in 2023 and Tony La Russa's health issues will prevent him from returning to the Chicago White Sox next season.

With the Washington Nationals up for sale, Davey Martinez may be shown the door in our nation's capital, it's highly unlikely that Mike Matheny will be back in Kansas City, and Aaron Boone could be in hot water if the New York Yankees don't make some noise in the postseason. Don't sleep on Derek Shelton being shown the door in Pittsburgh either.

But one name that doesn't appear to be on the hot seat is Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell. The Redlegs are likely to lose 100 games this season, bu Bell's squad was doomed from the start after the front office gutted the team by trading Jesse Winker, Tucker Barnhart, Eugenio Suarez, and Sonny Gray.

Look for David Bell to return to the Reds in 2023.

If anyone wants to blame the Cincinnati Reds' shortcomings on David Bell, you're way out of line. Not every decision that Bell has made this season was a stellar one, but the Reds' skipper was asked to perform a Herculean task.

In an effort to align the team's payroll to their resources (Nick Krall will never that one down), Cincinnati traded the aforementioned quartet of players prior to Opening Day, and then doubled down by dealing Luis Castillo, Tyler Naquin, Tommy Pham, Brandon Drury, and Tyler Mahle at the August 2nd trade deadline.

Does Reds Country really expect to see Bell find success at the major league level with three rookie starters, Robert Dugger, and T.J. Zeuch? C'mon! Then the bullpen is anchored by yet another rookie (Alexis Diaz) and a smattering of journeymen veterans like Hunter Strickland, Buck Farmer, and Derek Law.

David Bell has also had to deal with the insurmountable task of overcoming so many key players missing significant time due to injury. Tyler Stephenson, Joey Votto, Lucas Sims, Tony Santillan, Tejay Antone, Jeff Hoffman, and Vladimir Gutierrez all missed at least two-plus months of time and all seven will end the season on the IL.

We could see as many as eight managerial vacancies this offseason, and the Cincinnati Reds will have a hard time convincing any potential candidate that coming to the Queen City is the best available opening.

The best course of action would be to allow David Bell to play out the remainder of his contract. If he has success next season and is able to develop some of the franchise's up-and-coming talent, then perhaps fans will see him return in 2024 as well. If not, the Reds would at least be in better position to land a better manager after next season with what will likely be fewer openings.