David Bell, Cincinnati Reds
Remember when the Cincinnati Reds started this season with a 3-22 record? The team has certainly been better since those horrific first 25 games, but that doesn’t mean that Bell’s job is safe heading into next season.
Certainly part of the reason for the tough start was a depleted roster after an offseason fire sale that sent pitcher Sonny Gray, outfielder Jesse Winker, catcher Tucker Barnhart, and third baseman Eugenio Suárez away from the team after the Reds were so close to making the postseason in 2021. The Reds could sell off even more before the upcoming MLB trade deadline on August 2, so Bell may be playing with even fewer cards as he tries to fight for his job.
Cincinnati enters the All-Star break with a 34-57 record, part of the 223-252 mark Bell has pieced together now in his fourth season as the Reds skipper. Cincinnati has made the playoffs just one time under Bell’s watch, and that was in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season (they went 31-29 in the regular season, and then 0-2 in the postseason).
Bell signed an extension last season that goes through the 2023 campaign, but don’t be surprised if the Reds look for new leadership as they try to wipe the slate clean from what has been an ugly season.