Washington Nationals acquired Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Josh Bell in exchange for a pair of potential players. The Pirates announced the switch on Thursday.
Bell, 28, is coming out of a below-average season in 2020, but that is easily ruled out, as it was an abbreviated season of 60 games caused by a global pandemic. In 2019, scammer Bell enjoyed a great season of prominence, with an OPS + of 142 with 37 home runs and 37 doubles in 143 games for Pirates and made it to the All-Star team. For his career, Bell has a .261 / .349 / .466 cutoff line, and he has an average of 25 home runs from 162 games played over five major league seasons. Bell is eligible for second year arbitration in 2021 and is eligible for free agency after the 2022 season.
The Nats last season managed just an adequate first base production, mostly with a mix of Eric Thames and Asdrubal Cabrera. Bell appears to provide an upgrade, and he also gives Nats a baton option in case the universal DH remains in place for the next season.
As for the Pirates, they will receive two right-handed pitchers, Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean, in exchange for Bell. Although he noted that the Nationals does not have a particularly strong agricultural system at the moment, our own RJ Anderson classified Crowe, 26, as Nats’ number two candidate and gave Yean, 19, a “others to know” nod. Here is his article on Crowe:
“Crowe reached the championships last season, making three uninspiring starts in the final weeks of the campaign. He should have the opportunity to correct those mistakes in 2021. He has four offers on average or better, including a quick 90 ball (one not losing too many bats during your special appearance) and a slider responsible for more than half of your shots. “
And Yean:
“Yean is a solid bet to be in the top five next year. He is an athletic athlete with the qualities of a starting arsenal. He also won’t turn 20 until June, which means he has a lot of time to season.”
Here’s what Pirates GM Ben Cherington said about Bell’s return in a statement released by the club:
“Wil Crowe commands a solid fastball and several good secondary shots. He has a strong reputation and work ethic and has a chance to compete for Major League entries in 2021. Eddy Yean is a Dominican League candidate who was one of the best young pitchers in the short season in 2019. He has a mid-90s fastball to keep up with a promising slider and a change. Yean will join a growing group of promising potential players within our minor league system. “
More broadly, trade reinforces the notion that pirates are not close to contending and investing in payroll. For the Nats, this signals that they intend to recover from a disappointing 2020 and seek a second World Series title in three years with the core of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg and Juan Soto still in place.