Blue Jays free agent target: Josh Bell

The 2026 Toronto Blue Jays were among their worst-slugging teams in franchise history. After posting a .381 SLG, the fifth-lowest mark in club history, they should be looking for slugging solutions wherever they can.

Some of that improvement should come internally, with players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. potentially bouncing back from a career-worst .356 slugging percentage. But for the Blue Jays to dig themselves out of being a bottom-five offence, they’ll need some external additions as well.

Overhauling the offence should be priority number one for Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins this offseason. But that doesn’t necessarily mean shopping at the top of the market for hitters like Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe, or Seiya Suzuki. That also means filling holes with complementary pieces to make a well-rounded lineup.

Enter veteran Josh Bell, a player who has logged the 12th-most games among active players since 2016. Once the prized prospect of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ farm system, the 34-year-old has carved out a niche as a reliable veteran bat who could fit in on any team.

But does he make sense for a squad like the Blue Jays? At first glance, he may not be the sexiest addition to the roster, but after a little bit of consideration, Bell might be a natural fit for this lineup that’s in desperate need of power.

2026 Season Stats

Some players have been around so long that they feel like part of the league’s furniture. After 11 years and seven clubs, Bell is one of MLB’s most-travelled hitters. And when he inevitably signs every offseason, a common response might be: “Oh right, Bell’s still around.”

Despite hitting 30-plus home runs in a single season only once in his career (37 home runs with the Pirates in 2019), Bell’s been one of the most consistent power hitters since breaking into the league in 2016. He clubbed 21 homers with the Minnesota Twins in 2026, posting a wRC+ of 106.

After coming up as a first baseman, Bell has transitioned into a full-time designated hitter, with the ability to play a handful of games at first base in a pinch. He DH’d 129 games and started at first base 18 times for the Twins this past season.

His .255/.319/.419 slash line from 2026 is still respectable enough to keep him employed through his mid-30s, and there’s still plenty of gas left in the tank. Kudos to Bell’s conditioning: he’s only been on the injured list twice in his career and hasn’t missed time since 2021 (which was COVID-19, not even an injury per se).

Does Bell fit on the Blue Jays?

The Blue Jays need as much slug as possible, and adding a hitter like Bell would be one way to improve upon one of the league’s worst-performing lineups in 2026. Bell’s .419 slugging percentage would’ve ranked second on the team behind Kazuma Okamoto’s .452 slugging percentage.

For the first time in a long time, the Blue Jays have a bevy of left-handed hitters, but few of them can hit for power. Addison Barger’s timeline is unknown, and Anthony Santander still exists, so there are question marks about who will supply the left-handed power on the Blue Jays in 2027.

As a switch-hitter, Bell would offer that extra versatility to the lineup, but more importantly, the ability to hit the ball out of the yard at any given moment. Whether it’s as a designated hitter or a late-game bat off the bench, that power is sorely needed in Toronto’s batting order.

The obvious flaw in Bell’s game is his lack of speed, as he’s one of the slowest players in the league according to Baseball Savant’s Sprint Speed metric. He’s on par with Blue Jays like Okamoto and Guerrero Jr., but that’s to be expected with any potential designated hitter.

Spotrac puts Bell’s market value at $6.4 million on a one-year deal. That he could be signed for under $10 million (potentially to free up payroll to splurge on another starting pitcher or second baseman) is merely a bonus.

Bell is likely to go off the board late, which means he’s more of a complementary piece rather than a rush-out-and-get-it-now pre-lockout signing. But if the Blue Jays miss on one of their top free agent targets, Bell would still be a good get to round out their lineup.

Even at 34 years old, Bell delivers slug season after season. With George Springer unlikely to return to the Blue Jays, a player like Bell could offer some extra versatility with reliable pop. Given the right spot in the lineup, there’s a scenario where Bell could hit 20+ home runs and be a decent second-tier power hitter for the Blue Jays in 2027.