Josh Bell has built a career on being dependable, even if he rarely ends up as the headline act.
After his first five seasons in Pittsburgh, Bell has bounced across six teams over the last six years, becoming one of those familiar trade-deadline names who seems to be on the move almost every summer. He may never be the first name on a free-agent board, but the production keeps showing up.
Minnesota signed him last winter to a one-year, $7MM deal after he put up a 22-homer season as the Nationals’ primary DH. The Twins used him in much the same way, and Bell delivered a steady line: .255/.319/.419 over 631 plate appearances. He drove in 96 runs, his best total since 2019, and that ranked fifth in the American League in RBI.
The broader profile has been just as consistent. Bell closed the 2026 season with a 106 wRC+, matching what he posted in 2025.
Over the last four years, he’s lived in that same neighborhood, sitting between 102 and 106 wRC+ every season. The peak years were louder - 37 home runs and an All-Star nod in 2019, then a Silver Slugger at DH in 2022 - but what he’s done since then is its own kind of value.
He’s also been there nearly every day. Bell has played 140 or more games in every season of his career except his 2016 rookie year, when he didn’t arrive until July, and the shortened 2020 campaign. He hasn’t landed on the injured list since 2021.
That kind of slightly above-average offense doesn’t exactly scream superstar at first base or DH, where the bar is higher. But last winter’s market made Bell look pretty sturdy by comparison.
In his lane were one-year MLB deals for Marcell Ozuna, Rhys Hoskins, and Carlos Santana. Nathaniel Lowe, Andrew McCutchen, and Eloy Jimenez had to settle for minor league contracts, though all three still reached the majors.
Lowe helped the Reds and is now contributing for the Guardians in the postseason. The rest were rough.
Ty France was the only clear win from that group over Bell.
If Bell doesn’t return to Minnesota on his $10MM mutual option, he’ll be back in free agency this winter alongside Ozuna, Hoskins, and Lowe. The list of other first base/DH possibilities includes George Springer, Joc Pederson, Jorge Soler, and Miguel Andujar. It’s not exactly a dazzling market.
When Bell signs again, it probably won’t send anyone into a frenzy. The reaction will likely be mild at best. But more often than not, he’ll do what he always does: show up, hit, and quietly give a team a solid season from the middle of the order.
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Twins Could Be Closer Than Ever To A Royce Lewis Pivot
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Jazz Chisholm Jr. has emerged as the kind of short-term fit that could help bridge the gap if the Twins decide to change course. Even after a difficult offensive season and a trade to the Yankees, he still brings athleticism, defensive value and speed on the bases, traits Minnesota has shown it can use. The more interesting part is what his market may look like, because the Twins could find themselves with a chance to act before the rest of the league fully settles on his value. [Read more 🡒]