Why Josh Bell Signing is Paying Off for Minnesota Twins Amid 11-8 Start
The Twins are making the most of their roster so far.
The Minnesota Twins didn't make any blockbuster moves this past offseason, but they did sign veteran first baseman Josh Bell to a one-year, $7 million deal. The 33-year-old is earning his money so far, as he has an . 807 OPS and three homers with a team-high 14 RBIs through 19 games.
Bell is no stranger to being productive offensively. The 6-foot-3, 261-pounder has a . 786 OPS with 196 homers and 690 RBIs over 1,305 career games.
However, he played for four teams over the last three seasons, so he could finally find a long-term home if he stays hot. He has a mutual option on his contract for 2027. Bell played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2016 to 2020, but he never stayed with the same squad for two full years in a row after that.
The Pirates traded the 2011 second-round pick to the Washington Nationals in December 2020, who traded him to the San Diego Padres in August 2022. He then signed with the Cleveland Guardians three months later, who traded him to the Miami Marlins in August 2023. The Marlins then sent Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks in July 2024, and he returned to the Nationals in free agency that December before signing with the Twins a year later.