David Ross could return to NL Central with a Cubs rival that just fired its manager

Despite having two years left on his deal past 2024, David Bell is out of a job in Cincinnati. The team fired its longtime manager this weekend, creating a vacancy in the National League Central - and setting up a potential storyline for Chicago Cubs fans to keep an eye on early in the offseason.

The early odds-on favorite to succeed Bell, who managed the Reds for six years and compiled a 409-456 record, is current Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker. The 2023 NL Manager of the Year is expected to depart the club at season's end as Miami undergoes yet another rebuilding effort.

But given the Reds are on the hook for Bell's undisclosed salary for each of the next two seasons, might they look to other candidates to fill the vacancy in hopes of avoiding paying Schumaker top-dollar? It's certainly a possibility - and that's where former Cubs manager David Ross could factor in.

Ross himself suffered a Bell-esque end to his first managerial stint when Jed Hoyer fired him early last offseason when the team brought in longtime Milwaukee Brewers skipper Craig Counsell on a record-setting contract. The move ruffled feathers, both in and out of the organization, given Ross' standing in the clubhouse and the team's nine-game improvement over the year prior.

This year has been a story of 'new manager, same results' in Wrigleyville, with the Counsell-led Cubs already mathematically eliminated from postseason contention. Chicago hasn't made the playoffs in a full 162-game season since 2018 and patience is certainly wearing thin with the fanbase.

The Reds were hit hard by injuries and the PED-related suspension of top prospect Noelvi Marte early on in the year and never recovered. There's a lot of young talent there and Ross will no doubt be an attractive candidate given his experience both in the division and working with rebuilding rosters.

Just imagine: Cincinnati comes to Wrigley in late May and it's Ross exchanging lineup cards with Counsell. Talk about a scenario none of us could have predicted even 12 months ago.