The Washington Nationals will officially have to turn to a new piece to round out the depth at first base after the Minnesota Twins filled a need on Monday morning.

Former first baseman and designated hitter Josh Bell agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal with the Twins with a mutual option for 2027. The deal also includes a $250,000 signing bonus and $5.5 million salary in 2026 with a $1.25 million buyout, per the AP.

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He now has a chance to become the Twins’ fifth Opening Day starter over the last five seasons, giving the Twins an answer at a position of need for the club’s first impact signing of the offseason.

He began his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates where he played for five seasons before heading to Washington in 2021, playing in 247 games before being part of the Juan Soto trade, sending him to the San Diego Padres to end the 2022 season. Bell then spent 2023 with the Cleveland Guardians then the Miami Marlins in 2023 and 2024 before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks at the trade deadline.

In his lone season back with the ball club, Bell, also a switch hitter, posted a .237/.325/.417 slash line along with 22 home runs, 63 RBIs, 54 runs and 88 strikeouts in 468 at-bats and 140 games.

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Bell also made the National League All-Star team in 2019 when he posted a career high 37 home runs and 116 RBIs, while he then won the Silver Slugger award in 2022.

Whether the Nationals look elsewhere at first base remains to be seen, though former Padres first baseman Ryan O’Hearn was previously named as a prime candidate for Washington and new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni to bolster his 2026 roster.

“Washington has graduated a number of position players through its system over the past two years, but first base remains a need. O’Hearn made his first All-Star team in 2025, hitting 17 home runs with an .803 OPS in 144 games with the Orioles and Padres,” MLB.com wrote earlier this month. “The 32-year-old can also play right field, providing versatility to whichever team signs him.”

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Meanwhile, the Nationals avoided arbitration to bolster the rotation after agreeing to a one-year, $1.35 million deal with right-hander Josiah Gray on Friday where he is expected to be healthy by the start of spring training and available for the 2026 season.