Reds sack coach David Bell and appoint Freddie Benavides as interim coach

CINCINNATI (AP/WKRC) – The Cincinnati Reds fired coach David Bell on Sunday night after six seasons.

The team announced the move hours after a 2-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates and named reserve coach Freddie Benavides as interim coach for the final five games of the season.

“David has provided the consistency we needed in our clubhouse over the past few seasons. We felt a change was needed to move the Major League team forward. We have not achieved the success we expected and must focus on 2025,” Nick Krall, president of baseball operations, said in a press release.

With one week to go in the season, the Reds are in fourth place in the NL Central at 76-81, 13 1/2 games behind division champion Milwaukee. Cincinnati finishes the season with five road games. The Reds have a two-game series at Cleveland on Tuesday and Wednesday before finishing the season with three games in Chicago against the Cubs.

Bell, 52, was hired by the Reds in October 2018. He had a 409-456 record in six seasons and was the third manager fired that season.

Under Bell, the Reds reached a postseason berth in his second season in 2020, which was shortened to 60 games due to COVID-19.

Krall plans to speak to the media on Monday at Great American Ball Park.