Josh Bell is heading again to Washington, because the New York Publish’s Jon Heyman experiences that the primary baseman has signed a one-year, $6MM take care of the Nationals. The 32-year-old Bell is represented by the Boras Company.
Since Nathaniel Lowe was simply acquired final week to be the Nats’ new on a regular basis first baseman, Bell doubtless now slots in because the first-choice designated hitter. Each the left-handed hitting Lowe and the switch-hitting Bell have fairly even profession splits, however Bell might step in at first base each every now and then when Washington faces a left-handed pitcher, although Lowe is a significantly better fielder. Because the DH, Bell’s switch-hitting bat additionally brings a bit extra steadiness to a Nationals lineup that’s heavy on lefty swingers.
In a profession outlined by main cold and hot streaks, Bell’s earlier stint in D.C. stands out as maybe essentially the most constant stretch of his 9 MLB seasons. The Nationals acquired Bell from the Pirates in the course of the 2020-21 offseason, and Bell proceeded to hit .278/.363/.483 with 41 homers over 1005 plate appearances from Opening Day 2021 till he was dealt to the Padres as a part of the Juan Soto blockbuster on the 2022 commerce deadline.
Sadly for Bell and the Padres, his bat went chilly after the deal, although his general offensive output was sufficient for him to earn NL Silver Slugger honors for the DH place. It additionally led to a two-year, $33MM contract with the Guardians that winter, however Bell didn’t hit significantly effectively in his first 4 months in Cleveland earlier than he was once more dealt on the deadline, which sparked one other sizzling streak as he helped lead the Marlins to a playoff berth.
The sample continued ultimately July’s deadline, as Bell once more discovered himself on the transfer from the Marlins to the Diamondbacks. Bell had hit solely .239/.305/.394 in 441 PA for Miami final yr, however his bat once more got here to life post-trade, as he hit .279/.361/.436 in 162 PA for an Arizona crew that had quickly misplaced beginning first baseman Christian Walker to the injured record.
The short-term nature of this newest contract leaves open the chance that Bell may very well be dealt at his fourth consecutive commerce deadline if the Nationals aren’t in competition. Whereas Lowe is below arbitration management by way of the 2026 season, Bell and fellow free agent Michael Soroka had been each inked to one-year offers, because the Nationals appear to be considerably hedging their bets on their readiness to compete in 2025. The Nats have struggled by way of 5 straight shedding seasons since their World Collection victory in 2019, but with many members of their younger core now within the huge leagues, there was hypothesis Washington is perhaps slightly extra aggressive this winter in firmly saying the top of its rebuild.
This being stated, Bell’s signing is definitely a lift for a Nationals membership that had hassle producing offense final yr, significantly within the energy division. The Nats’ 135 house runs ranked twenty ninth of 30 groups, and CJ Abrams (with 20 homers) was the one D.C. participant who went yard extra typically than Bell (19 homers) did in 2024.
With Bell and Lowe within the fold, anticipated enchancment from Abrams and Luis Garcia Jr., and a full season from prime prospects James Wooden and Dylan Crews, there’s loads of cause to assume the Nats generally is a rather more productive lineup. If every thing clicks and the crew’s younger pitching additionally takes a step ahead, the Nationals would possibly effectively get again to successful baseball subsequent yr, after which maybe begin spending on bigger-name expertise subsequent offseason.
Bell’s profession stroll and strikeout charges have constantly been above common, whereas his barrel charges have been extra spotty. His hard-hit ball fee dropped to 40.1% final season, barely under the league common and his lowest mark because the 2018 season. Whereas there isn’t a lot signal of decline at age 32, per se, the massive query about Bell is solely which model of the slugger goes to point out up, given how his manufacturing has swung forwards and backwards so sharply over the previous few seasons.
Now that Bell is signed, third base stays a goal space for Washington, because the crew’s try to get Gleyber Torres to vary positions from second base fell on deaf ears. The bullpen stays a transparent space of want, and there’s nonetheless loads of time within the offseason for the Nationals so as to add an even bigger title than Soroka as extra of a clear-cut improve to the rotation.
