The Brewers are among the growing list of teams with interest in Nationals first baseman Josh Bell, reports SNY’s Andy Martino. Both Martino and Jeff Passan of ESPN suggest that Bell could be among the first notable names to change hands, perhaps sooner than later. Getting a Bell deal completed in the near future would give Washington general manager Mike Rizzo additional time to focus on the deluge of trade interest he’s receiving in star outfielder Juan Soto.
Milwaukee joins the Mets and Astros as teams known to have interest in Bell, a 29-year-old switch-hitter who’s enjoying a .302/.388/.492 batting line in his final season before reaching free agency. Martino reported yesterday that there has not been substantial momentum in talks between the Mets and the Nationals regarding Bell. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, meanwhile, reports that Bell remains a “priority” for the Astros as they look to upgrade amid Yuli Gurriel’s struggles.
For the Brewers, Bell would serve as both an offensive and defensive upgrade at first base over Rowdy Tellez. Bell has significantly improved as a defensive option at first base in recent years, going from a bottom-five ranked defender to a player who now has slightly above-average ratings at the position. It’s possible that the Brewers’ internal evaluation still favors Tellez, but both Defensive Runs Saved and Outs Above Average peg Bell as the better option.
That’s not to say that a Bell acquisition would push Tellez out of a job, but Bell could very well result in Tellez spending more time at designated hitter. A Bell-to-Brewers scenario could prove more worrisome for veteran Andrew McCutchen, who hasn’t performed up to expectations since signing a one-year deal and has uncharacteristically been far worse against left-handed opponents than against righties. Were McCutchen handling lefties as he typically does, a Tellez/McCutchen platoon at DH would appear formidable. That’s not the case, though, as McCutchen’s .230/.281/.402 slash against lefties leaves plenty to be desired.
Bell would give Milwaukee (or any other club) a legitimate middle-of-the-order presence against both lefties and righties. While he’s been better as a left-handed batter (.311/.402/.493), the longtime Pirates slugger has still crushed lefties at a .287/.362/.488 clip this season. Bell had a rough first month of the 2021 season but has generally been outstanding since, hitting at a combined .289/.375/.497 with just a 15.1% strikeout rate and an 11.6% walk rate in his past 920 trips to the plate. Bell hits the ball on the ground more than he should (50.9% in that stretch of 920 PAs), but he’s also seen one in five fly-balls he’s hit during that time leave the yard.
The Nats also figure to have several relievers available, with each of Steve Cishek, Carl Edwards Jr. and Kyle Finnegan a candidate to change hands prior to next Tuesday’s deadline. It’s conceivable that the Brewers or any other team with interest in Bell might also try to pry a bullpen arm loose, though Bell should have sufficient value to net a notable prospect or two on his own.
Yesterday’s MLB/MLBPA failure to reach an agreement on an international draft means that the qualifying offer system will remain in place, meaning the Nats will need to be convinced that whichever prospect(s) they receive in exchange for Bell would outweigh the value of a value of a compensatory pick in the 2023 amateur draft. Bell has been a bargain on a $10MM salary this season, so it stands to reason that the Nats would have little hesitation in making a qualifying offer in the $19MM range in order to ensure that they receive draft compensation when he departs as a free agent. That’s an unlikely scenario, given trade interest in Bell, but it’s worth noting that yesterday’s outcome played into the favor of the Nats and a few other non-contenders who are peddling rental players that look like obvious QO candidates this offseason.
Good player who will definitely help a contender.
If MKE gets Bell it will create a real logjam at DH. I can’t see them pushing Cutch out now, given the roll he’s been on the past 6 weeks or so. Plus they have to give regular DH days to Yelich. My guess is Rowdy would be the odd man out, but maybe Stubby has him penciled in for 3B, C and bullpen arm after all his proposed trades go down…
I could see them doing the musical chairs thing that Counsell loves to do anyway. Cutch can still play CF some days. FWIW, dude has the fastest sprint speed on the team.
I just worry about his age catching up if he plays regularly in the OF. He’s been doing some already so Yelich can DH. That’s 2 guys who, based on their DH usage to this point, figure to require a fair amount going forward. Combine that with Rowdy’s lack of hitting lefties (not that anyone has been very good this year) and he’s the odd man out. He can be the mashing lefty pinch hitter.
Meh. I’m glad Bell has found himself, and man do the Brewers need a consistent bat in the lineup. I just don’t see the Crew going in this direction with Rowdy, Cutch and Yelich already competing for DH at bats, among others. I think Benintendi is the more likely target.
You don’t not trade for Josh Bell because you’re worried about plate appearances for Rowdy or Cutch. And Yelich is going nowhere but out to left field every day.
Valerio, Bello and Floyd for Bell?
They’ll get a much better return than that. I’d say his value is a top 10 in a better system w another top 30 and you know- players that are actually producing this season.
Valerio and Bello are having solid seasons in pitcher friendly ball parks. Mlb.com hasnt done a full update since March.
I was wondering about that last update augold- guess it was just a top 100 update then. Thanks for the info !
It seems like we have a bunch of OF that are going to be ready in the next 2-3 years. Especially if the brewers look to add a bullpen arm in the deal I bet the nats start with one of those top OF prospects we have and then work from there.
No way Mitchell, Frelick or Wiemer are sent for a rental 1B/DH.
Then no way Josh Bell comes to the brewers
Agreed. The Nats might just take 3 of the Brewers 11-25 ranked OF type prospects that are 18-20 years old with upside.
You honestly think Bell nets a T100 prospect?
With 3-4 teams interested in him? Yes
I’ll admit if I’m wrong, but please provide an example of a pure 1B/DH rental that got that kind of prospect package. It just doesn’t happen. A 50FV and a few 45/40 FV? Sure. But tope end prospects? No.
Did Rowdy’s defense get better or 1B defense get worse throughout the league?
I think he’s gotten better. Not gold glove good but I don’t cringe when the ball is hit or thrown his way. Obviously his range is limited with his size.
While it’s easy to pick on the weak Central, the division race between the Brew Crew and Cards is pretty exciting and will come down to trade deadline moves. I do think both teams will make the playoffs because of the weak division, but the Phils and Giants could steal that last spot.
The Brewers have already been playing Cutch in CF and I think that would happen more frequently with a trade for Bell. That way Tellez/Bell/Cutch/Yelich and Renfroe could all be in the lineup at the same time. Not ideal defensively but the Brewers need big help on offense and this would do it. Imagine Yelich/Adames/Bell/Renfroe/Cutch/Tellez/Urias//Wong/Narvaez-Caratini. That’s a much better slump-prevention lineup.
I’m a big fan of Cutch, but playing him in CF these days seems like tempting fate. His defensive prowess is long gone.
“Deluge of trade interest” in Soto. He will be gone soon too. I am sure some of the teams interested in Soto want both Soto and Bell.
I guarantee you AJ has explored getting both in the same deal..The question is, how..Talk about emptying out the farm..
If the Nats get more than Wil Crowe in a trade, theyre ahead of the game
Will Crowe could turn into the next O’Neil Cruz for Pirates though. I could see the Yankees trying to snatch him to replace the RP they lost to injury last week.
Poor fit. Brewers system is too thin and wash will get a decent return for a rental. Brewers should be going after Contreras w a Chourio package. He takes that line up to the next level
The Brewers have three solid catchers and there’s a reason that catchers are rarely traded midseason. Wherever Contreras goes, it’s going to be lot of time at DH for him and the Brewers aren’t lacking at that position.
Chourio has a very high ceiling and could be the new face of the franchise in about five years. No way he gets traded to a division rival. If he moves this summer, it would be something much more valuable than a rental catcher.
My bad. Thought he had another year of control.
Who’s out there worth Chourio?
Not much. It would have to be an all-star with multiple years of control. Chourio is only 18 and is being compared to Acuna Jr with similar stats, exit velo and age of breakout in A-ball.
Contreras and Happ would both be perfect for the Padres. Luis Campusano, Ryan Weathers and Joshua Mears should get it done.
I can’t claim to have access to Mark Attanasio’s bank statements, but is there any possibility that the Crew could take on a chunk of Corbin’s salary? The Nats could trade Bell and Corbin (and cash and Cishek and Finnegan) for a pound of stale cheese curds. Then Rizzo would have the decks cleared to extract maximum return for Soto and the Lerners can sell to the highest bidder. It’s all coming together, baby!
Might have less to do with dollars and more about why the heck would MKE want him? Assuming Peralta comes back soon and pitching well, they’ll have burnes, Woody, Lauer, Ashby, Peralta and Houser (plus a few near-mlb ready arms in the minors) to pick from.
A bullpen piece would make more sense.
Meh. Doesn’t really matter if they get “maximum value” for Soto if they get basically nothing for 3 other good assets like Bell, Cishek, and Finnegan. They all go to the same farm system in the end.
While Bell does make a lot of sense for Milwaukee, I don’t understand why they continue to never give Hiura a chance. He has a 126 OPS+ (which is the highest on the roster, albeit a limited sample) and they refuse to play him. They’re constantly sending him down and playing wash ups like Jace Peterson.
Hiura K’s like 38% of the time and is a bad defender. He hits a couple HR in the first few days after being recalled, then chases high fastballs that everyone knows he can’t catch up to, until Counsell gets fed up with it and parks him on the bench.
Peterson gets on base, is a LH batter, and can play decent defense at 1B, 3B, LF & RF.
McCutchen isn’t who he used to be, but has actually been hitting quite well for at least a month now. Bell would still be a major boost to that line up though.
I’d love for the Astros to add Bell
Water is wet lol. These articles seem pointless. Almost every contender is interested.
Interesting that you both read the article and took the time to post to something so pointless.
Interesting, you replied….. What’s really pointless here
Astros are going to make a big move or two.
Not in on Soto. As great as he is, he just won’t fit even if they had the trade pieces ( which they don’t).
Verlander will get paid ( again) this offseason and the team has Tucker, Framber Valdez, and Cristian Javier who are now arb eligible and getting expensive. They need extensions on those guys.
But Bell and Luis Castillo I could completely see happening and working.
Verlander is also getting close to 40 do you really think he’s going to be playing into his 40s like Tom Brady?
Yes. That’s exactly what I expect.
He has said he wants to pitch until he is 45 and get 300 wins.
Nolan Ryan did it
Roger Clemens did it
Randy Johnson did it.
He is very much like those guys.
I would not bet against him.
And the Astros ( Jim Crane specifically) do not want to see him in another uniform.
Well, he’s not like Clemens as far as we know. JV has to pass drug tests.
How has McCutchen not lived up to expectations? He has the 2nd most hits on the Brewers. A 101 OPS+, .255 BA with 10 HR has exceeded my expectations. Cutch is 35, I’m not expecting another MVP season out of him.
Only thing that makes sense is he started out slow, then basically went into hibernation for 3 weeks, before the current hot streak..which is being devalued because of the slump, so the overall view…since he’s playing for MKE instead of [insert big money club here]..is he’s falling short of expectations.
Or simply because his launch angle isn’t in the top 8% of qualified right handed DH types..
He looks great on that team. He has some games been the only consistent bat. It’s a team of .240 hitters
Read the article. Crew got him to beast vs LH pitchers. 940 OPS career vs them. Beat that last season. His OPS vs LH this year is nearly what he slugged alone last season vs them. Brewers kryptonite has been facing LHP for years now. Teams call up a LH prospect to start has been a nearly guaranteed 7IP 0-1R box line. Cutch and Renfroe were supposed to help but instead flipped their platoon splits.
The Brewers could win the central with Stevie Wonder playing first. Their front office is sitting back letting the cardinals make panic moves decimating their club once again all in hopes of a wildcard which they’ll never get.
If I’m nationals – prob not many names on my list above Walker. Dude is a sure fire stud and future all star. Combine him w a couple names and a thin stl team gets a lot thinner !
Why would they not get a wildcard? It’s not like the other 4 teams fighting with them for one of the three wildcards are lighting it up. The Braves have been on a tear, but Philly and the giants are in the same boat as the cards. If the cards were to trade for Soto that’s an immediate mvp type bat added to goldy and arenado. A wildcard would be definately achievable. It’s not like the brewers lead the cards by 10 games. It’s 2 games. Plus the cards have yet to realky hit their stride.Cards could be up 5 games in 2 weeks. So the brewers should do all they can to upgrade because the central is up for grabs.
A “notable prospect or two” for a rental? He is a very dynamic hitter, but I’m skeptical about how much he’s worth prospect-wise. On second thought, I’m sure someone is willing to overpay if it means adding that final piece.
Josh Bell for Ethan Small straight up.
Small would be a hefty price for a rental 1B/DH. My guess is it will be 2-3 prospects a tier or two below Small. Small isnt out of question though is the market is hot for Bell
Bell and Cruz will be moved, but they are one tool rentals and there will be a limited market for a DH/1b type player among the contenders. Brewers need a bat but really need a more versatile player, not a great roster fit. However the crew will make a move and we know it won’t be at the top end of the market. So, it’s possible they end up with Bell because his prospect cost will likely be far less than better more versatile options…regardless of fit.
Could they possibly trade for Andrew Benintendi I would much rather have him go to the Brewers as they’ve already played the Blue Jays this year
I might get crushed for saying this, but Benintendi doesn’t really fit what the Brewers want to do on offense. They seem content with HR or K every at bat. That said, Bell doesn’t fit perfectly either.
They’ll probably get a 3rd tier guy who fits the all or nothing mold (maybe Gallo) and another bullpen arm and call it good.
I’d prefer a 3rd-tier guy and bullpen arm vs Bell or Benintendi. It’s not like either of those dudes push the Crew into “WS contender” status, yet will cost too much, IMO, for “MAYBE make it to the NLCS” round. But I’d argue that the existing roster has the club at basically that level anyhow.
If the team is going to pay for someone, push all the chips in the table for Soto. (Not saying MKE has the best chance of landing him or will even try.) He’s someone who could put them in the WS conversation, as long as too much current talent doesn’t go out the door. Since that’s probably unrealistic, though, 3rd-tier seems like the way to go.
Just keep him in the NL and away from the Astros, please.
They can have Ryan O’Hearn for free!