The Blue Jays announced the hiring of former Reds manager David Bell as their vice president of baseball operations and an a sistant general manager. Ben Nicholson-Smith and Nelson Velazquez Jersey Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported the news ( ) before the club announcement. Bell will oversee the Player Development and Physical & Mental Performance departments, while also contributing to Major League strategic planning decisions and advising on player evaluations and acquisitions, Toronto announced in a pre s release. Bell becomes the third a sistant GM under Ro s Atkins in the baseball operations hierarchy. Michael Murov and Joe Sheehan also hold that title. Former Astros general manager James Click plays a key role as vice president of baseball strategy. The 52-year-old Bell moves back into player development after six seasons in the dugout. Bell has experience in that capacity, as he worked in the Giants player development department in 2018. The Reds hired him to manage going into the 19 season. The Reds went 409-456 during Bells managerial run. Their only postseason appearance came in the expanded field in 2020. Things looked to be trending up when the Reds surprisingly won 82 games in 2023. They took a step back this year and Cincinnati fired Bell in the final week of a losing season. They coaxed Terry Francona out of retirement at the start of the offseason. Bells contract with the Reds ran through the 2026 season. Danny Jackson Jersey