Former Giants standout David Bell is back on the market after a surprising move from Toronto.
Bell has resigned as the Blue Jays’ assistant general manager and vice president of baseball operations, according to Ken Rosenthal. Bell explained his decision this way: “I decided to step away and reassess where I can make the greatest impact, on and off the field.
The Toronto Blue Jays are a first-class organization. I have a deep appreciation for the people I’ve worked with over the past two years.”
What comes next is the big question. Bell could remain with the organization in some capacity, or he could be looking for a different opportunity elsewhere. Either way, the move stands out given his long connection to the Giants, where he was a Willie Mac Award winner and a key figure in the 2002 World Series run.
His lone season in San Francisco was a productive one. Bell hit .261/.333/.429 in the regular season with 20 home runs and 73 runs batted in, then turned it up in October by batting .304/.418/.429 with two homers and six RBIs in the playoffs.
He also left his mark in the biggest moments. Bell scored the game-winning run in Game 5 of the NLCS, and he was part of the infamous World Series play when Darren Baker, Dusty Baker’s son, came out to home plate too early and J.T. Snow picked him up before Bell came around to score.
After that, Bell continued his playing career for several more years before moving into coaching. He worked with multiple organizations, then returned to the Giants in 2017 as vice president of player development. At the time, there was even thought that he might eventually succeed Bruce Bochy as manager, but Bell instead took over as manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 2018.
That stint ran through six seasons, with the Reds going 409-456 under Bell before he was dismissed after the 2024 season. Toronto hired him almost immediately, but now he’s again in a position to choose his next move.
A return to managing is one possibility. The Houston Astros and Los Angeles Angels both have openings, and Bell could decide to wait for the next round of jobs if he wants back in that chair. A Giants reunion also can’t be ruled out, especially with San Francisco’s habit of bringing familiar faces back into the fold.
However it plays out, Bell’s reputation around the game remains strong, and it doesn’t feel like he’ll be out of work for long.
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