What Josh Bell’s Signing Means for the Rest of the Twins’ Lineup

[Cody Christie]

Image courtesy of © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images

Josh Bell is not the kind of signing that flips an organization on its head, but he is the kind that quietly reshapes how a lineup comes together. At 33, Bell arrives in Minnesota as a known quantity. He has been an above-average hitter for nearly a decade—durable to a fault, and consistently productive even when the overall package has not quite matched the star-level expectations once placed on his prospect profile.

Bell has spent much of his career teasing something more. The power is real. The plate discipline is real. The problem has always been the ground balls. Despite that flaw, Bell has averaged better than 26 home runs per 162 games over the past seven season, and has shown an ability to carry an offense for weeks at a time when he gets hot. The Twins are betting that stability and experience can help lift a lineup that has too often relied on streaky young bats to do the heavy lifting.

First Base Fit and Defensive Tradeoffs
Bell figures to be the primary first baseman for new manager Derek Shelton, who briefly overlapped with Bell in Pittsburgh. The Twins' current internal options at first base are serviceable, but limited. Edouard Julien can handle the position in short spurts, but is stretched defensively. Kody Clemens brings versatility and pop, but profiles better as a part-time player. Neither option offers the middle-of-the-order presence that Bell provides.

The downside is obvious. Bell is not a good defender. While he posted solid grades at first base in 2021 and 2022, the longer-term numbers are ugly. Over his past 1,551 innings in the field, Bell has been charged with -20 Defensive Runs Saved and -16 Outs Above Average. He struggles with range and consistency, and his lack of speed shows when plays require lateral movement.

Minnesota is scheduled to have a young infield around Bell, which could throw his defensive shortcomings into sharp relief. Royce Lewis saw improvements at third base last year, but he has previously struggled with throwing issues. Brooks Lee and Luke Keaschall will form the team’s double-play duo, at least some of the time, but both are seen as below-average defenders. The Twins need someone at first who can help their young infield with scoops and errant throws.

That reality likely pushes the Twins toward a flexible usage plan. Bell will play first base often, but the club can mitigate some of the defensive damage by rotating him through the designated hitter spot. That would also open occasional opportunities for Julien or Clemens to see time at first, keeping more bats in the lineup without asking Bell to shoulder the full defensive burden.

The Designated Hitter Picture
Like most teams, the Twins do not operate with a fixed designated hitter. That fluid approach becomes even more critical with Bell in the fold. Sliding him into the DH role on certain days helps the overall defense and keeps him fresh across what is typically a heavy workload. Bell has appeared in 91.5 percent of his team’s possible games since becoming a full-time regular, averaging better than 148 games per season.

The DH situation also intersects with Trevor Larnach, whom the Twins retained through the arbitration process. Larnach remains a bat-first corner outfielder who can soak up DH at-bats, particularly against right-handed pitching. At the same time, he is one of the more logical trade candidates on the roster, if the Twins look to rebalance or address another need.

With Bell in the mix, the Twins have more freedom to rotate players through the DH spot. That flexibility could keep Larnach involved, while also making him expendable. If Bell occupies first base on a given night, the DH can be used to rest a regular or to keep an extra left-handed bat in the lineup. If Bell is the DH, Julien or Clemens can slide to first, and the outfield alignment becomes easier to manage.

How Bell Reshapes the Lineup
Even with the defensive shortcomings, Bell adds a legitimate bat to the middle of Minnesota’s order. When he elevates the ball, he does so with authority. Statcast ranked his 96.4-mph average exit velocity on line drives and fly balls 25th among 251 qualified hitters. His isolated power of .507 on fly balls sits well above the league average, even if it falls short of elite territory.

Bell’s long-standing issue has been his tendency to hit the ball on the ground. Last season’s 45.7% ground ball rate was actually the second-lowest of his career, trailing only the 44% mark from his 37-homer season in 2019. Even so, that number remains well above the league average. For a hitter with terrible speed for a big-leaguer, grounders sap value and suppress overall production.

In the lineup, Bell slots neatly into the top half of the Twins’ batting order. Minnesota needs more right-handed pop, but Bell, a switch-hitter, had an OPS that was 252 points lower against lefties last season. His .804 OPS against righties should make him an everyday player when lefties aren’t on the mound. His presence eases pressure on talented but inconsistent hitters like Lewis, Lee, and Matt Wallner, while also providing insulation if Larnach remains with the club.

If the Twins compete in 2025, it will be because in-house talents take meaningful steps forward. Bell, alone, does not change that equation. What he does offer is reliability. He has been at least an average bat in every full season of his career (outside of the shortened 2020 campaign). In a lineup searching for stability, that matters.

If the season veers the other direction in a competitive AL Central, Bell’s durability and track record make him a sensible trade chip. In that sense, his signing fits the Twins' current reality. It raises the floor without closing doors, and it gives the lineup a clearer shape heading into spring.

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What does Bell bring to the Twins lineup? Leave a comment and start the discussion. 

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[nicksaviking]

He's better than Clemens and Julien, but hasn't had an OPS over .750 in four years. I really hope just because he's a veteran and because he was a free agent signing, that they don't automatically pencil him into the middle of the order. Can't we aim a bit higher than that? Buxton, Keaschall, Jeffers, hopefully Lewis and even Wallner are probably better suited for the top half of the lineup. And that's presuming no other free agents, trades or improvements from the existing players.

But yeah, the team is probably going to act like this was a big-time free agent signing and treat it as such line-up wise.

[NYCTK]

You make a good point. This infield defense is shaping up to be one of the worst in the league. Woof! 

Well, at least they make up for it with their OF defense?!?

Oh no!

[HerbieFan]

"It raises the floor without closing doors, and it gives the lineup a clearer shape heading into spring."

This.  This is why the move makes sense.  

[Cory Engelhardt]

The headline should add "as currently constructed." LOTS of changes, and I don't at all expect that Bell will be here to play defense at 1B full time. 

[Woof Bronzer]

durable middle-of-the-order bat

This is an interesting way to describe a player who has been sub-replacement level over the past 3 years.  

[chpettit19]

Yet another bat being presented as a "top half of the order" hitter who has no business hitting there on a good team. His last 3 OPS+ marks were 101, 100, and 110. We need to stop pretending like these are bats that make the team competitive if they're in the top half. They aren't. 

We've had this same problem since 2019. Kepler and Larnach are the 2 players that stand out most to me as getting way too many ABs in the top 4 or 5 of the lineup and people using them hitting there as proof the team can't/shouldn't move on from them. They aren't actually top half of the lineup bats. Not on real contenders, at least. Josh Bell is more of the same. 

The Twins have been "raising the floor" for years. That floor keeps getting lower and lower. I don't think this "raise the floor" plan is working very well.  This isn't some egregious move. It's not a bad move in a vacuum. If you can flip him at the deadline for any sort of piece at all, that's not bad. But the idea that these types of moves are going to turn a 70-win team into a contender for the division is ridiculous. Their only hope remains that half the returning lineup puts up career years. You can judge for yourself how likely you think that is. This move didn't move the needle in any serious way. Maybe 1 more win.

[Woof Bronzer]

15 minutes ago, HerbieFan said:

"It raises the floor without closing doors, and it gives the lineup a clearer shape heading into spring."

This.  This is why the move makes sense.  

Unfortunately, the Twins plan is to find an additional 25 wins from last year's roster, so it's the ceiling that needs to be raised, not the floor, and wasting precious resources on a washed up AAAA player most definitely doesn't do that.  

[bunsen82]

33 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

He's better than Clemens and Julien, but hasn't had an OPS over .750 in four years. I really hope just because he's a veteran and because he was a free agent signing, that they don't automatically pencil him into the middle of the order. Can't we aim a bit higher than that? Buxton, Keaschall, Jeffers, hopefully Lewis and even Wallner are probably better suited for the top half of the lineup. And that's presuming no other free agents, trades or improvements from the existing players.

But yeah, the team is probably going to act like this was a big-time free agent signing and treat it as such line-up wise.

If he we make him more of a platoon player he may have an OPS above .800.  Those type of hitters don'e grow on trees.  Maybe he does improve a little having a few more days off in the field as well.  Its not a bad option.   

Its in Josh Bells best intrerest to have a good season.  I am sure he would like 1 more short term solid deal to end his career on.  If he were to put up a season similar to 2022 - i am sure sure someone would give him a 2-3 year contract in the $30 to $45 million range.  

[NYCTK]

4 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Yet another bat being presented as a "top half of the order" hitter who has no business hitting there on a good team.

Sure, but this is the Twins, not a good team. 

[umterp23]

Only thing this move did now was give falvey a talking point that we are investing around the core. One could argue was this an investment? It was money spent which isn’t necessarily an investment

[LastOnePicked]

"If the Twins compete in 2025, it will be because in-house talents take meaningful steps forward."

Sorry to hear about your coma. Sadly, it didn't happen. May not happen in 2026 either - especially if marginal free agents keep taking away opportunities from young players to grow at the big-league level.

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, NYCTK said:

Sure, but this is the Twins, not a good team. 

The Twins are trying to claim they are trying to be a good team, though. And people here are going to claim the same thing, and point to this signing as a reason to believe they can be. 

I'm on a crusade to make it known far and wide that the Twins are not going to be the team so many want them to be until we stop accepting that these are top half of the order hitters. We've been so conditioned now that people are really struggling to look at the team and compare it realistically to what the actual good lineups look like. I've made it my mission to annoy everyone by pointing this out constantly.

[chpettit19]

8 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

If he we make him more of a platoon player he may have an OPS above .800.  Those type of hitters don'e grow on trees.  Maybe he does improve a little having a few more days off in the field as well.  Its not a bad option.   

Its in Josh Bells best intrerest to have a good season.  I am sure he would like 1 more short term solid deal to end his career on.  If he were to put up a season similar to 2022 - i am sure sure someone would give him a 2-3 year contract in the $30 to $45 million range.  

His career splits are actually quite similar. Adding another lefty only bat to the DH pile isn't very useful. He needs to get back to his career numbers against lefties or he's not all that useful here. And he played 33 games at 1B last year. How much many more days off in the field does he need?

It isn't an awful move by any means. But let's not make Josh Bell into more than he is.

[Danchat]

24 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

and I don't at all expect that Bell will be here to play defense at 1B full time. 

This seems to be an annual thing... last year it was "France's deal isn't guaranteed, he probably won't be the everyday 1B" and "Bader is here to the 4th OF, he's not going to get more than 400 PAs". Maybe he DHs quite a bit, but he is absolutely going to be the starting 1B this year.

Quote

Its in Josh Bells best intrerest to have a good season.

It is in every player's interest to have a good season...

[NYCTK]

1 minute ago, Danchat said:

This seems to be an annual thing... last year it was "France's deal isn't guaranteed, he probably won't be the everyday 1B" and "Bader is here to the 4th OF, he's not going to get more than 400 PAs". Maybe he DHs quite a bit, but he is absolutely going to be the starting 1B this year.

You're pointing out two undeniably good deals and veterans that were used to near perfection? 

[chpettit19]

3 hours ago, NYCTK said:

Sure. We're smart enough to know better. Just because an executive says something doesn't make it true.

Oh, I don't at all know better. I 100% believe Falvey is trying to compete in 2026. I don't know if he believes they can actually pull it off or if he's just making 1 last gasp effort to save his job, but I have been saying since the deadline I didn't think he was blowing things up in any real sense (in his mind) and was going to try to compete in 2026. I fully and completely believe Derek Falvey thinks he just made a meaningful deal that will help this team be good in 2026.

[NYCTK]

3 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Oh, I don't at all know better. I 100% believe Falvey is trying to compete in 2026. I don't know if he believes they can actually pull it off or if he's just making 1 last gasp effort to save his job, but I have been saying since the deadline I didn't think he was blowing things up in any real sense (in his mind) and was going to try to compete in 2026. I fully and completely believe Derek Falvey thinks he just made a meaningful deal that will help this team be good in 2026.

I think there's value in these sorts of contracts for terrible teams, especially for a team like the Twins with no one being blocked. 

I can't believe Falvey is stupid enough to think this team is any good. I just can't. I know plenty of stupid people get promoted up the ladder, but no one can honestly think that about this team. 

 

[chpettit19]

4 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

I think there's value in these sorts of contracts for terrible teams, especially for a team like the Twins with no one being blocked. 

I can't believe Falvey is stupid enough to think this team is any good. I just can't. I know plenty of stupid people get promoted up the ladder, but no one can honestly think that about this team. 

 

Yeah, I don't think it's a terrible move, but that's because I expect them to be out of it by the end of April and the Pohlads to tell Falvey to dump the rest of Bell's salary. I don't hate the move because I think they'll trade him, I just don't think it's the plan as of December 15, 2025.

I lean towards him just trying to save his job, but if he didn't think this team was any good he'd trade Ryan for sure, and I truly don't think he has any intention of doing it.

[Cory Engelhardt]

17 minutes ago, Danchat said:

This seems to be an annual thing... last year it was "France's deal isn't guaranteed, he probably won't be the everyday 1B" and "Bader is here to the 4th OF, he's not going to get more than 400 PAs". Maybe he DHs quite a bit, but he is absolutely going to be the starting 1B this year.

It is in every player's interest to have a good season...

I'll just say, both Bader and France both had a track record of better defense than Bell has shown.

[LastOnePicked]

29 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I'm on a crusade to make it known far and wide that the Twins are not going to be the team so many want them to be until we stop accepting that these are top half of the order hitters. We've been so conditioned now that people are really struggling to look at the team and compare it realistically to what the actual good lineups look like. I've made it my mission to annoy everyone by pointing this out constantly.

This is an excellent mission. Thank you.

The playoffs were a good reminder that the kind of baseball Twins have been playing and the kind of baseball top teams have been playing can scarcely be called the same sport. It's time to change that.

[MarkTwins]

following in the footsteps of Carlos Santana and Ty France as 1st basemen signings, makes Bell a lock for a Gold Glove in 2026.

[bunsen82]

41 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

His career splits are actually quite similar. Adding another lefty only bat to the DH pile isn't very useful. He needs to get back to his career numbers against lefties or he's not all that useful here. And he played 33 games at 1B last year. How much many more days off in the field does he need?

It isn't an awful move by any means. But let's not make Josh Bell into more than he is.

Who would have thought Pagan would have got a 2 year $20 million contract.  I might have gone slightly over,  but look at our own Bader who we signed in that $5 to $6 million range,  he is looking at a 2-3 year deal in the the $10 million to $13 million AAV range.  

[rv78]

27 minutes ago, NYCTK said:

You're pointing out two undeniably good deals and veterans that were used to near perfection? 

So you are saying that acquiring them was never actually about winning and only to flip them for prospects? If the same intent is with Bell, then we can also assume that Ryan, Buxton, Lopez and Jeffers will be traded yet this off-season or at the 2026 deadline too. That would be perfect execution of them as well. 

What I believe is that Falvey is doing his usual add around the fringes with players that will make little to no difference. Then sell the hype to gullible fans to sell tickets for the Pohlads proclaiming from the roof tops that the team added just enough to push them into play-off contention. Signing Bell, another poor defender, low batting average, HR swinging DH type, does nothing to improve this team. I suppose since Correa is gone they felt the need to fill his capacity for hitting into groundball doubleplays. Mission accomplished.

[chpettit19]

10 minutes ago, bunsen82 said:

Who would have thought Pagan would have got a 2 year $20 million contract.  I might have gone slightly over,  but look at our own Bader who we signed in that $5 to $6 million range,  he is looking at a 2-3 year deal in the the $10 million to $13 million AAV range.  

How many DHs in baseball make 15 million a year? 4. And the Rangers are not at all happy paying Joc that. Are you suggesting teams will put Josh Bell in that category after he puts up 1 season? He better put up Schwarber numbers this year if he's going to get that. I'll take the under.

[bunsen82]

2 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

How many DHs in baseball make 15 million a year? 4. And the Rangers are not at all happy paying Joc that. Are you suggesting teams will put Josh Bell in that category after he puts up 1 season? He better put up Schwarber numbers this year if he's going to get that. I'll take the under.

As stated,  probably overstated the AAV slightly.  A 2-3 WAR even DH bat would get $10 million though for 2-3 years.  

[NYCTK]

12 minutes ago, rv78 said:

So you are saying that acquiring them was never actually about winning and only to flip them for prospects? If the same intent is with Bell, then we can also assume that Ryan, Buxton, Lopez and Jeffers will be traded yet this off-season or at the 2026 deadline too. That would be perfect execution of them as well. 

What I believe is that Falvey is doing his usual add around the fringes with players that will make little to no difference. Then sell the hype to gullible fans to sell tickets for the Pohlads proclaiming from the roof tops that the team added just enough to push them into play-off contention. Signing Bell, another poor defender, low batting average, HR swinging DH type, does nothing to improve this team. I suppose since Correa is gone they felt the need to fill his capacity for hitting into groundball doubleplays. Mission accomplished.

Nah, last year I think they were more unaware with how bad their team was and were actually trying to put together a competitive team. 

[chpettit19]

1 minute ago, bunsen82 said:

As stated,  probably overstated the AAV slightly.  A 2-3 WAR even DH bat would get $10 million though for 2-3 years.  

Sure. I'll take the under on Josh Bell being a 2-3 WAR bat. I mean he hasn't even sniffed 1 WAR in 3 years. That is just not a reasonable projection for him. Do I hope he does that? Absolutely. But a realistic projection for Josh Bell is 0 WAR. 

[Jasper]

Was there an open roster spot or does someone have to move off the roster?

[LyleCole]

35 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I'll just say, both Bader and France both had a track record of better defense than Bell has shown.

But Bell plays a defensive position that is the lowest on the spectrum.  The incremental hitting far outweighs any difference in the fielding prowess of Ty France, or any other prospective Twin 2026 first baseman.   If you really expect the Twins to be marginal competitors, this isnt a terrbile signing.  

The real problem with this signing is that it is shift in the "Roster Age" spectrum in the wrong direction.  He will be 33 years old in 2026.  Frankly, while I agree that Josh will bit better in 2026 than probably any of the potential prospect or other younger options,  in the overall scheme what difference does it make. 

In the end, the entire problem is summarized by the contract he signed.   One year, $7 million with some sort of "mutual" contract arrangement for 2027 (from Spotac).   I understand the rational of a one year deal, but what it truly means deep down inside is that the ownership simply will not commit to the team and the fans.  If Bell plays below his expected norm, we move on.  If he plays near his expected norm, my guess is we unload him for marginal value at or near the trade deadline.  If he exceeds expectations, he prices himself out of the 2nd year and moves onto a team that will pay him.   

This is a short term, mediocre fix to a long term problem.  Shoving a 33 year old player into this position just delays finding the long term solution we truly need.