While I know everyone is probably glued to their televisions soaking up all of the March Madness action that they can possibly handle, Opening Day for baseball is finally around the corner this week. It has been a long offseason as it usually is, but at least this year the Washington Nationals front office made some legitimate additions to hopefully help the club increase their win total from the previous couple of seasons, with 71.
One of those additions was a reunion with a familiar face who was loved by Nationals fans during his time with the club, in first baseman and designated hitter, Josh Bell. His time in DC was by far the best stretch of his career, as in 247 games with the club, he accounted for 6.4 Wins Above Replacement (WAR), and clubbed 41 homers with an .846 OPS.
Of course, his first tenure in DC began as a gift from Mike Rizzo to Nationals fans, as he was acquired on Christmas Eve in 2020, as the Pirates were seeking to recoup some value after a lost season for him in 2020 after his 1st career All-Star selection in 2019. His tenure would end when he would be involved in possibly the most infamous sports trade in recent memory, save for the Luka Doncic trade to the Lakers, when Juan Soto was dealt to the San Diego Padres in exchange for an incredible haul that helped the Nationals bolster their farm system for years to come.
Since being traded away from the Nationals, Bell has lost a little bit of his mojo, and perhaps he came back to the team to hopefully recapture his previous form. His .725 OPS in 2024 was his lowest output since that covid-shortened 2020 season, but his late-season performance with the Arizona Diamondbacks shows that he should still have a bit left in the tank, as he posted a .796 OPS with 5 homers and 22 RBIs in just 41 games with the Snakes.
While the Nationals are hoping for a return to his previous form, it appears as if Bell, who was brought back on only a 1-year deal, is already being noticed as a potential rental candidate by other teams around the league. As pointed out by TalkNats on their site, who was the first to make me aware of this article's existence, CBS Sports has already put out a list of potential trade deadline candidates for the 2025 season.
The site listed their Top 10 early picks, and Bell came in at #8 on that list. Mike Axisa, the author of the article, pointed out that Bell has been dealt at the deadline in 4 straight years, and he believes that 2025 will be no different. Although the Nationals should at least be better on paper in 2025, given that they are in arguably the most competitive division in baseball with the Braves, Phillies, and Mets all likely to make the playoffs, the Nationals could easily find themselves selling off rental pieces at the deadline, and opening the door for young pieces.
Axisa goes on to discuss how the team could at least get serviceable production from guys like Juan Yepez and Andres Chaparro to finish the season, and the loss of Bell could even open the door for guys like Robert Hassell III to get an opportunity heading into next season. As for who could be in on Bell? He listed the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins as potential fits, albeit as early predictions.
Of course, it is way too early to begin looking into who could be dealt at the deadline, as there have only been 2 games played in the entirety of Major League Baseball to this point. However, as the season develops, keeping an eye on Bell will certainly be a focus as we move closer to the trade deadline.
As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.