The Twins have reportedly added a power bat for their lineup: veteran 1B/DH Josh Bell. Bell, who spent 2025 with the Nationals, will join the Twins for what will be just his second tour of duty in the American League. The switch-hitter had a fine year overall last season, as he cracked 22 home runs despite a slow start.
A Look at Bell
After a 19-home run season in 2024 between Miami and Arizona, Josh Bell signed with the Nationals last winter. It was Bell’s second stint with the team, as Washington acquired him in the 2020-21 offseason to help try to keep their championship window open. He played one and a half seasons before being traded to San Diego.
Bell wound up being the Nationals’ DH for more than half of their games last season. He also played 33 games at first, and wound up being more productive overall than Nathaniel Lowe, who was DFA’d and cut in August after he was also acquired last winter by Washington.
It didn’t start that way, however. Bell slashed .133/.229/.267 between March and April. He carried an elevated 22.0% K% during that time, at least by his standards. And, his .495 OPS was the third-lowest (min. 110 PA) in that span, behind only Joey Ortiz and Andrew Vaughn.
However, he turned on the jets as the year went on.
Bell had a strong final two months for the Nationals, as he slashed .257/.331/.486 with nine home runs and 15 extra-base hits. He finished the year with 22 home runs, the second time in three seasons that he amassed that many in a single season.
The 33-year-old has generally been good for several things: power, the ability to put the ball in play, and a high walk rate. Another plus: the bat speed ticked up. His average of 73.1 MPH from 2025 was up almost three MPH (70.4 MPH) from his 2024 average.
Bell’s splits have varied over the years. In fact, more often than not, his numbers against left-handed pitchers have generally been better than those against right-handed pitchers. For example, in 2023, Bell slashed .265/.360/.494 with eight home runs against LHP, better than the .239/.310/.387 versus RHP.
This past season, however, Bell only posted a .552 OPS versus left-handed pitching. He fared much better (18 HR, .796 OPS) versus righties.
Per reports, the Twins will sign Josh Bell to a one-year deal with a mutual option.
Analysis
Last winter, it took a while for the Twins to a Major League contract signing. Minnesota was one of the last teams to make their first non-Minor League contract signing in 2024-25, as the Twins didn’t do so until the team added Harrison Bader and Danny Coulombe.
This offseason, the Twins got one on the board in December.
The Twins’ infield situation is mostly set heading into 2026, as Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, and Royce Lewis figure to get the vast majority of reps for a team that will look very different compared to Opening Day 2025. However, first base is the one real question mark.
Kody Clemens, who saw a lot of time at first last season for Minnesota, came into the offseason as a very likely candidate to play there again in 2026. Clemens did very well against right-handed pitching, as all 19 of his home runs came off them. On the other hand, he slashed .192/.264/.218 in limited action (89 PA) against same-sided pitching.
Bell is a good option to play at first base against left-handed pitching. Plus, a DH for a team that didn’t have a clear option to slot in there before this move.
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