Josh Bell Is On The Move
Josh Bell, welcome to Cleveland! The former All-Star and Silver Slugger has agreed to a two-year deal with the Guardians worth $33 million. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman was first on the news, as the deal also includes an opt-out after 2023:
The switch-hitting infielder should fit in just fine with the rest of this Cleveland lineup. The likes of Jose Ramirez, Andres Gimenez, and Stephen Kwan worked wonders in 2022. But a little extra power hurt nobody. He should fit in nicely in the middle of the order, especially if he bats closer to the .301 average he had in Washington compared to the .192 average he sported in San Diego. This much, however, is clear: The Guardians are looking to be more than a wild card team and make it further than just Game 5 of a Divisional Series. It’s also a pretty favorable deal for both sides if things don’t quite go to plan.
Speaking Of The Padres…
The Padres need to pivot at first base. It’s clear their priorities were elsewhere, mainly in the form of Trea Turner. With Bell off the board and Brandon Drury also a free agent, AJ Preller can’t wait for all the dominoes to fall. Previously, a lot was said about former infielder Eric Hosmer during his time in San Diego. However, the former World Series winner has since moved on to the Red Sox and had some sticking power. All this leaves the Padres with is more questions. Does Jake Cronenworth move from second to first? What about Ha-Seong Kim? How much are they gonna spend to sort out the infield?
Josh Bell’s major league journey has a new stop. It’s worth noting that Cleveland was not going to be the only suitor. The Red Sox and Cubs were two names others had in mind. It’ll be interesting to see how Terry Francona works out Bell with both first and the DH spot. Josh Naylor (remember him?) and Bell now seem set to split time between both spots. With Donovan Mitchell and the Cavs balling, Cleveland sports actually isn’t doing too bad these days.
