In a significant move for the Minnesota Twins, first baseman Josh Bell has officially signed a one-year contract worth $7 million. This agreement was finalized following a successful physical examination, with the announcement made on Friday after the terms were settled on Monday.
As part of this deal, Bell will receive a signing bonus of $250,000 along with a salary of $5.5 million for the upcoming 2026 season. Additionally, the contract features a mutual option for the 2027 season, which includes a buyout clause of $1.25 million for Bell. Furthermore, he will enjoy the benefit of staying in a hotel suite during road trips, adding a touch of comfort to his travel schedule.
A consistent and powerful switch-hitter, Bell is expected to play a crucial role in addressing the Twins’ needs at both first base and designated hitter as he embarks on his 11th season in Major League Baseball (MLB). In the previous season with Washington, he recorded a batting average of .237, belting out 22 home runs and driving in 63 RBIs.
Originating from the Dallas area, Bell has demonstrated remarkable durability throughout his career, appearing in no fewer than 140 games during each of his eight full seasons in the majors. He has surpassed 600 plate appearances on five occasions, showcasing his reliability as a player.
Bell was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second round of the 2011 amateur draft, making his MLB debut in 2016. His standout year came in 2019 with the Pirates when he earned an All-Star selection after hitting .277 with an impressive tally of 37 home runs, 116 RBIs, and a .936 OPS.
Over his career, Bell has accumulated 193 home runs and maintained a .785 OPS, primarily in the National League. He has also played for teams such as Miami, Arizona, and San Diego, with his only prior experience in the American League being a stint with Cleveland in 2023.
Remarkably, over the past five years, Bell has changed teams seven times, including four trades, making the Twins his sixth team in under four years. This offseason marks the third consecutive year that the Twins have turned to free agency to secure a temporary solution at first base, with Bell following in the footsteps of Ty France and Carlos Santana. After trading France to Toronto on July 31, Kody Clemens stepped in as the primary player at first base, hitting 19 home runs in 112 games while also contributing as a versatile player in various positions, including second base and all outfield spots. Now, Clemens is likely to transition into a utility backup role.
While the Twins are navigating a period of uncertainty regarding their payroll for the 2026 season and beyond—particularly with ownership seeking to bring in two new investment groups to alleviate financial debt—president Derek Falvey assured last week at baseball's winter meetings that the front office aims to maintain its current salary structure without further reductions. This means they will not be compelled to trade away any of their All-Stars, including center fielder Byron Buxton and starting pitchers Pablo López and Joe Ryan. With Bell joining the team, the next challenge for Falvey and general manager Jeremy Zoll is to rebuild the bullpen for new manager Derek Shelton, especially after it underwent significant changes during last summer’s trading frenzy.
