Reds fire manager David Bell after six seasons

Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Just one year after signing him to a contract extension, the Cincinnati Reds opted to fire manager David Bell.

The National League Central franchise announced Bell's dismissal Sunday night after a 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cincinnati. Just five games remain on their 2024 regular-season schedule. Bench coach Freddie Benavides will serve as interim manager.

Bell, 52, led the Reds to a 409-456 record over six seasons. He helped the Reds reach the postseason during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.

"David provided the kind of steadiness that we needed in our clubhouse over the last few seasons," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said in a news release.

"We felt a change was needed to move the major league team forward. We have not achieved the success we expected and we need to begin focusing on 2025."

Bell was hired in 2019 and received a three-year contract extension in July 2023. That pact was set to run through 2026. The 2024 Reds went 76-81 under Bell and sit in fourth place in the National League Central, 13.5 games behind the division-winning Milwaukee Brewers (89-67) and 11.5 games back of the final wild-card playoff spot.

The Reds will face the Cleveland Guardians (90-67) at 6:40 p.m. EDT Tuesday in Cleveland.