{"id":479646,"date":"2025-12-16T11:04:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-16T11:04:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/479646\/"},"modified":"2025-12-16T11:04:21","modified_gmt":"2025-12-16T11:04:21","slug":"mn-twins-make-their-first-free-agency-splash-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/479646\/","title":{"rendered":"MN Twins Make Their First Free Agency Splash"},"content":{"rendered":"

Earlier this offseason the Minnesota Twins suggested a desire to avoid trading their stars<\/a> and an intention to add<\/a>. It was always going to be a wait and see situation there, but Derek Falvey pulled the trigger on Monday morning.<\/p>\n

First base was clearly the most important place to add offensively. Rather than just give Kody Clemens the starting role, someone needed to come in as the established answer. Considering a trio<\/a> of Rhys Hoskins, Ryan O\u2019Hearn, and Josh Bell, it was the former Washington Nationals slugger that answered the call.<\/p>\n

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Josh Bell signs with Minnesota Twins<\/p>\n

For the third-straight season the MN Twins will have a new starting first baseman. Carlos Santana took the role two years ago and won his first Gold Glove<\/a>. Ty France was the answer last season and followed in his footsteps<\/a>. Now it will be Josh Bell, and the club would love to see similar results.<\/p>\n

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Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but Bell\u2019s contract is effectively a one-year deal. The mutual option is unlikely to be exercised as a good year would have Bell opting out, and a bad year wouldn\u2019t interest Minnesota in a reunion.<\/p>\n

Bells is a former second round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 33-year-old owned a .237\/.325\/.417 slash line<\/a> for the Nationals last season. Across 140 games, he blasted 22 homers which tied his 2023 mark. In 2019 with the Pirates, Bell hit .277\/.367\/.569 with 37 homers en route to his lone All-Star Game appearance.<\/p>\n

It will forever be unlikely that Bell finds the success of that juiced ball season, but he\u2019s a capable switch-hitting slugger that provides insurance for Kody Clemens. Clemens was a good find for Minnesota last season, but likely would have been stretched in a starting role.<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately there isn\u2019t much of a platoon advantage for new manager Derek Shelton<\/a>. Clemens owned a .482 OPS<\/a> against lefties last season but Bell wasn\u2019t much better with a .552 OPS<\/a>. It\u2019s more straightforward to roll bell out as an every day option, and sprinkle Clemens in as a utility type.<\/p>\n

Bell has never posted positive numbers defensively<\/a> at first base, so the Twins streak of winning Gold Gloves is almost certainly coming to an end. That\u2019s not great news for an infield that was leaky defensively with a talented first baseman. He helps the lineup though, and can be a trade piece if things go sideways this summer.<\/p>\n

With Bell in tow, the most significant offensive addition has been addressed. Now it becomes time to focus on the bullpen<\/a> and rebuild what was torn down last summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Twins kick off Grapefruit League action<\/a> down in Fort Myers on February 21.<\/p>\n

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