David J. Phillip / AP file

Buddy Bell, 53, managed at Detroit from 1996-98 and Colorado in 2000-2002, compiling a record of 345-462.

“The flexibility is still there with the payroll and if all of us get our act together in the front office and acquire those players who will help him toward winning, better than we have, we’ll do that,” Dan Glass said.

Bell has had plenty of experience with struggling teams. In his first year with the Tigers, Detroit lost 109 games. But Bell rebounded the next year to go 78-83, a 26-game improvement that had him second in voting for AL manager of the year.

He was fired by the Rockies in April of 2002 when the team started 6-16.

“Managers change jobs. Managers seemingly don’t manage one team for a long period of time,” David Glass said from his office in Bentonville, Ark. “Each time they’re forced to make a change, they wind up being better the next time. With an experienced manager, you get someone who’s tried it and failed and is a better man because of it in almost all cases.”

Bell said he didn’t mind the challenge of taking over a struggling team.

“Over the years, I have made a lot of friends in this great game of ours, and I don’t necessarily have to manage,” he said. “If I was going to manage again, it was going to be in an organization that I can help thrive.

“This was the best situation for me and the Kansas City Royals, and that was very important to me.”

He said the key to success is not asking players to do more than they’re capable of.

Pena was AL manager of the year when the Royals went a surprising 83-79 in 2003. But the next year, despite adding such high-profile veterans as Juan Gonzalez and Benito Santiago, the club lost a franchise-record 104 games.

“This will be a great loss to our major league team and organization, but we’re ecstatic for Buddy,” Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. “This is a great opportunity that he wanted and that we are confident he will succeed in.”

Bell and his father, Gus, combined for 4,337 hits — the second-best father-son duo after Barry and Bobby Bonds, who have 4,348. Bell’s son, David, plays for the Philadelphia Phillies.

“We’re very excited to get him,” David Glass said. “He’s a good baseball guy, from a good baseball family. He will be good working with young players. He will buy into the youth movement. He’s tough but fair, and I think he will make a very good manager for the Royals.”

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