Is anyone interested in FA Josh Bell for 1B?

[DocBauer]

Unless the FO makes a major trade of 2-3 top 20 prospects for a young, controllable position player that is on the cheap side financially for a big bat, the hopes to add to the roster will rest on moving a piece or two such as Vazquez and/or Paddack to create a little $ room to add around the edges.

Assuming nobody wants to trade away a young, controllable BIG BAT for prospects, we might be looking at smaller additions for the margins. But while the player side of the roster doesn't have any GLARING holes, 1B might be the biggest question mark for 2025.

I keep looking at Josh Bell as an inexpensive addition that might make sense for 1B as a replacement for Santana, who some view as a possible re-sign. Most every projection I can find has him available for $5.5-7.5M on a FA deal.

CONS:

* He's an experienced but average 1B.

*He doesn't have the same power he had earlier in his career.

*While he closely matches Santana in career quad slash line, he's still slightly behind. 

PROS:

*He's 33yo, not 39. There's far less likelihood of a sudden drop off.

*His 2024 numbers jumped once he left Miami for Arizona.

*He's also a switch hitter, but unlike Santana, he's got much greater even splits against both sides of the mound.

*His production over the past few seasons still suggest around 50 XBH.

*Like Santana, he's durable and usually good for 140 games.

He doesn't move the needle in the way a MAJOR FA target like Goldschmidt might, or Walker might. But Walker is out of the Twins price range. And even Goldy might be as well, speculations being around $12-14M.

But he's a solid bat from both sides of the plate with some power who can slot in the 5-7th slot in the lineup to deepen the lineup and provide decent production. He also allows Miranda to continue to develop as a 1B...while still covering 3B and DH...without pushing him in to the fulltime 1B role to begin 2025.

What do you say? Is this a smart, inexpensive move to deepen the lineup and provide 1B help? Or is there a better option that you see?

[DJL44]

He's a downgrade on just using Miranda

[RpR]

[Parfigliano]

Go with Miranda

[Doctor Wu]

Like you said, Bell puts up pretty consistent power numbers and is fairly durable. His defensive skills, or lack thereof, are a concern, but if we can sign him for a reasonable amount I wouldn't mind it. I'm just not sure if  Miranda is the answer at 1B, so a free agent signing might be the best way to go this season. And hey, I wouldn't mind having an ageing Santana back again. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Depending on what else they do, I'd be ok bringing him in. Even pairing him with Miranda and using the DH, IF both of them are healthy and going well, that's not a bad thing.

[nicksaviking]

Not interested.

As a rule, when a guy has played for five different teams in three years, I don't want him.

[Mike Sixel]

Play to win. Go with the risk. See my post in other baseball....

You don't win by gathering mediocre, risk reducing, players. 

No interest. Play Miranda or Larnach or Julien there. 

[RpR]

42 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Play to win. Go with the risk. See my post in other baseball....

You don't win by gathering mediocre, risk reducing, players. 

No interest. Play Miranda or Larnach or Julien there. 

Hopefully Julien gets traded or they do like they did with Garlick , put him in AAA and leave him there.

Miranda is better, to a degree, at 3rd than Lewis, so leave him there.

Larnach is a outfielder, for which there is no replacement, at this point but at that, Bell would be a massive hole at 1st base.