Minnesota Twins Sign Josh Bell to Bolster Corner Infield Power

The Minnesota Twins just dipped into free agency and picked up veteran first baseman Josh Bell on a one-year deal. It’s a move that feels pretty on-brand for Minnesota—adding steady vets to help anchor a lineup full of young, still-developing talent.

Twins Sign Josh Bell: Contract Details and Financial Fit

The Twins and Josh Bell landed on a one-year, $7 million contract. There’s also a mutual option for 2027, which lets both sides see how things look after 2026.

Breaking Down Bell’s Contract Structure

Bell’s deal has a few layers, reflecting his experience and a bit of risk. Here’s how it breaks down:

Honestly, it’s a classic low-commitment, medium-upside signing. The $7 million hit is modest, especially with the payroll just over $100 million. Minnesota still has about $15 million to play with, so there’s room to strengthen the bullpen or bench if they want—no need to lock themselves in.

What Josh Bell Brings to the Twins’ Lineup

Bell arrives as one of those guys who rarely grabs headlines but always seems to help. Over ten years in the majors, he’s carved out a spot as an average-to-slightly-above-average hitter with occasional flashes of real impact.

A Bat Built on Patience and Power Potential

At 33, Bell’s offensive game is pretty well known. He’s had some big years—2019 and 2021 stand out—when the power showed up and he looked like a legit middle-of-the-order threat.

The raw power is still there, and when he gets into one, you notice. The issue has usually been how that power holds up over a full season. Bell’s battled a high ground-ball rate for most of his career, which has limited his slugging even with all that strength.

On the bright side, that ground-ball problem has eased up lately. The Twins see that and probably think there’s more extra-base pop in his bat than he’s shown.

Bell’s 2025 Season: A Tale of Two Halves

Last year with the Nationals, Bell hit .237/.325/.417. That’s pretty much who he’s been—solid, not spectacular. He still gets on base, with a 10.7% walk rate, and he dropped his strikeouts to a career-low 16.5%.

That patience and contact blend is exactly what teams want these days. But what really catches your eye is how he finished the year. From July on, Bell turned it up, hitting .284/.371/.486—suddenly looking like the kind of bat you want in the middle of the order.

The Twins are betting that late-season version of Bell shows up in 2026. If he does, he’s not just another league-average guy—he’s a stabilizer.

Defensive Outlook: Fitting Bell into the Field

The bat’s the main attraction, but the glove? That’s a different story. Bell isn’t coming in as a defensive upgrade.

First Base, DH, and Roster Balance

He’s graded out below average defensively lately, with negative marks in Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average. At first base, that’s not ideal, but it’s not a deal-breaker either.

The plan is to play Bell mostly at first base, with a bit of DH mixed in. Giving him DH time does a couple things:

That kind of balance matters. Minnesota’s aiming to contend, but they’re also making sure their young players keep getting chances.

How Bell Fits the Twins’ Bigger Picture

Bell’s signing really shows where the Twins are right now. They’re not blowing it up, and they’re not tossing out huge long-term contracts. They’re walking that line—trying to stay in the playoff mix, but still keeping enough flexibility to adjust as things change.

Veteran Stability Meets Prospect Development

By adding Bell, the Twins deepen their lineup with a veteran who knows the grind of a 162-game season. They avoid blocking their young talent with a long contract.

It’s a short-term, performance-driven deal. If Bell’s second-half surge in 2025 turns out to be real, the mutual option gives both sides a shot to keep things going.

If not, the club can move on with minimal dead money. That flexibility lets them lean harder on their own prospects.

In a division where a few timely bats can separate contenders from pretenders, Josh Bell’s mix of patience, power, and experience could end up as one of the Twins’ sneakier, more important offseason moves.

 
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