Josh Bell Signs with Twins, and That’s Exactly Why the Pirates Didn’t Bite
When Josh Bell’s name hit the transaction wire, it sparked a familiar reaction in Pittsburgh: a wave of nostalgia, a glance at the depth chart, and the inevitable question - could a reunion make sense?
On paper, sure, the Pirates need help at first base and designated hitter. That’s not up for debate.
But Bell was never the solution. Not for this roster.
Not for where this team is trying to go.
Let’s start with the basics. Spencer Horwitz is in the mix, and he brings a lot to the table.
He’s got a disciplined approach, gives you quality at-bats, and knows how to control the strike zone. But there’s one clear hole in his game - he struggles against left-handed pitching.
That’s not unusual, but it does mean the Pirates need a complementary piece. Someone who can handle lefties and give the lineup a different look when the matchup calls for it.
Bell, despite being a switch-hitter, isn’t that guy.
That’s the part that gets overlooked when his name comes up in Pittsburgh circles. Yes, he can bat from both sides, but his production against left-handed pitching has been slipping for years. The bat speed isn’t what it was, the quality of contact has dipped, and the power that once flashed from both sides of the plate now shows up in streaks - not consistently.
So pairing Bell with Horwitz? That’s not balance.
That’s duplication. Two hitters who prefer righties.
Two bats you don’t feel great about sending up late in games when a lefty reliever is warming. And two players who don’t solve the Pirates’ most pressing offensive issue: their inability to do damage against left-handed pitching.
This lineup doesn’t need sentiment. It needs solutions.
Bell agreed to a one-year deal with the Minnesota Twins, with a mutual option attached. He’ll be used at first base and DH - a move that makes sense for a Twins team looking for stability and veteran depth.
They need innings-eating at-bats and a switch-hitting presence to round out their roster. That’s a fit.
The Pirates, on the other hand, need leverage. They need a right-handed bat who can force opposing managers to think twice about bullpen matchups. They need someone who can actually hit left-handed pitching - not just stand in the box against it.
Bell hasn’t been that player in a while.
And beyond the bat, there’s the roster flexibility piece. Bell is essentially a 1B/DH at this point in his career.
He’s not moving around the diamond. He’s not giving you lineup versatility.
He’s not unlocking new combinations. For a team like Pittsburgh, trying to build something more dynamic, that matters.
The idea of bringing Bell back might’ve felt good. It would’ve been a comfortable move.
A familiar face. A flashback to that electric first half in 2019.
But roster building isn’t about comfort - it’s about construction. And if Ben Cherington and the front office are serious about upgrading this offense, not just reshuffling it, then this was never going to be the move.
Let’s be clear: Bell signing with the Twins isn’t a missed opportunity. It’s a reminder.
A reminder that not every former Pirate needs to come home. Especially when the fit isn’t there.
The Pirates still have work to do. They still need a right-handed bat to complement Horwitz.
They still need someone who can punish lefties. They still need to add real offensive firepower.
Bell wasn’t the answer to any of those needs - and that’s why his signing elsewhere doesn’t change the equation.
The bar for improvement in Pittsburgh can’t be “at least it’s something.” That’s not good enough anymore. If this team wants to take a meaningful step forward, it has to stop chasing familiarity and start chasing fit.