Reds are paying David Bell to do absolutely nothing

In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Terry Francona came out of retirement and took over as the Cincinnati Reds manager this past October. Reds fans were stunned. For the first time since Dusty Baker roamed the dugout, the Cincinnati faithful had a manager that they could believe in.

Interestingly enough, however, the Reds are still paying former manager David Bell to do absolutely nothing — something many Reds fans would tell you was the very definition of his six-year tenure in Cincinnati.

The Reds fired Bell last September with one week left in the 2024 season after signing him to a three-year contract extension in 2023. As such, the Reds are still on the hook for the remaining $4.9 million on Bell's contract that runs through the 2026 season.

Reds still owe David Bell $4.9 million after firing him in 2024

Bell earned that contract extension thanks to a red-hot June during the Reds' 2023 campaign. Rising stars like Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Andrew Abbott helped lead Cincinnati on a 12-game win streak that put the team in playoff contention.

An injury to McLain, an exhausted bullpen, and some would argue a handful of horrendous managerial decisions on the part of Bell led to Cincinnati's second-half collapse. The Reds did finish with a winning record, however, something Bell was able to do in three of his six seasons at the helm.

Francona's first few months in charge have not been without criticism. Oddly enough, it began on Opening Day when Francona decided to close out the ninth inning with Ian Gibaut which resulted in a blown save. The Reds' skipper has since recovered from that faux pas, and though some questionable lineup choices have fans scratching their heads at times, most of Tito's decision-making has been seen as a welcome change.

Whether the Reds are reallocating resources to pay for Bell's remaining salary or simply mailing him a paycheck every two weeks is a bit of a mystery, but the fact of the matter is the former Cincinnati skipper is still getting paid despite no longer being with the organization.

After getting the axe in September, Bell latched on with the Toronto Blue Jays front office and is the team's new vice president of baseball operations and assistant general manager. His new club is in the thick of the MLB Postseason hunt, something he could rarely say during his time with the Reds.

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