Josh Bell is on the move.
This afternoon, the Cleveland Guardians made a power play for 2023, signing the veteran slugger to a two-year, $33 million contract.
The deal includes an opt-out clause after the 2023 season.
The 30-year-old was part of the deal that sent Juan Soto to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline.
In 53 games with the Padres, Bell hit just .192, but finished the regular season with a .266 average, 17 home runs, and 71 RBI.
Jon Heyman and Jeff Passan were the first to report the latest signing.
Bell joins a Guardians team that outperformed expectations and captured their first AL Central title since 2018.
Bell Joins The Guardians
This is a good move for the Guardians.
They came into the offseason in need of a power bat.
With Bell, they have checked that box.
The slugger figures to either take the starting first base job, with Josh Naylor handling designated hitter duties, or potentially slot in as the team’s DH himself.
Bell reached the Major Leagues in 2016 with the Pittsburgh Pirates and was traded to the Washington Nationals prior to the start of the 2021 season.
After a brief stint with the Padres, the first baseman entered the free agent market.
Adding the veteran slugger to an already-promising group of young stars bodes well for the Guardians, who won 92 games during the regular season, eliminating the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card round before being eliminated themselves by the New York Yankees in the ALDS.
Bell also provides a little extra protection for Jose Ramirez.
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