3 managers the Reds should target after firing David Bell
For the length of the season, it’s been debated as to whether the Cincinnati Reds would fire their sitting manager, David Bell, or not. On one hand, the Reds weren’t winning at the rate that the front office wanted them to. But on the other hand, players were either getting injured or underperforming. You can’t fault the manager for that.
But ultimately, Cincinnati decided to part ways with David Bell with just a handful of games left in the 2024 season. For the most part, this was expected. The timing is a little weird though, as Cincinnati could have just waited until the end of the season, but opted to make the move before it ended.
Either way, they will be looking for a long-term managerial option this offseason. They need somebody who can fit their style of play and the youth that comes with the Cincinnati Reds.
3. Barry Larkin
The first name on the list has been floated around this position for the past five or six years. It’s the Reds all-time great shortstop, Barry Larkin.
In the past, Larkin has denied the idea of managing, opting to stay in player development and in the commentary booth. But when pressed about the idea, Larkin admitted that a lot of the younger players had pushed for the idea of him taking over as the team’s manager
This idea is a rumor that has swirled around the organization for years now. The players love Larkin and Larkin loves them—and the game of baseball—right back. He has the knowledge and the leadership that it takes to do the job. He’s also a notorious winner who has often criticized Cincinnati’s complacency as a middle-of-the-pack team in the league. It’s definitely an interesting option.
If the Reds want to stay in-house with their managerial pick, Larkin would make a ton of sense. He doesn’t have the experience at the position that fits the “win now” mantra that comes with Cincinnati’s decision to fire Bell though. It’s a long shot that they hire Larkin as their manager, but it would certainly be fun.
2. Mark Kotsay
Now we move on to an option that’s a lot less fun for Reds fans, but probably a better business decision for the team. Mark Kotsay is the sitting manager for the Oakland Athletics. He is expected to part ways with the team at the conclusion of the season, as Oakland is headed for a relocation and a complete transformation of their franchise, including the manager.
When Kotsay parts ways with the Athletics, he’s definitely one of the options that Cincinnati could look into. The first thing that people will point out about Kotsay is his managerial record being horrifically bad. But that has less to do with him, his managerial skills and the job he’s doing and more to do with the players put on his roster.
