*Photo from The Athletic*
Looking for some thump in the middle of the order, the Washington Nationals went to the trade market. The Nationals have acquired 1B Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for pitching prospects Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The Nationals and Pirates have confirmed the trade.
In the short 2020 season, Bell experienced a bit of regression from his fantastic 2019 season. Bell hit .226 with 8 homers and 22 RBI in 57 games played in 2020 for the Pirates. In his 5 major league seasons, all with the Pirates, Bell is a .261 hitter with 86 homers and 309 RBI in 552 career games in 5 seasons. Bell also has a career OPS of .814 as well.
Nationals GM Mike Rizzo, who officially confirmed the trade shortly after the news first broke, was excited to add Bell to the middle of the order. Rizzo said that "We are thrilled to be adding a player of Josh Bell’s caliber to our team, he adds a switch-hitting power bat to our lineup. And we know Josh will be an outstanding addition to our clubhouse and our community."
Crowe, the 3rd ranked prospect in the Nationals system, made his major league debut in 2020, posting a 0-2 record with an 11.88 ERA with 8 1/3 innings pitched in 3 starts for the Nationals, mostly during doubleheaders. Crowe was a second round draft choice of the Nationals in 2017 from South Carolina. In the minors, Crowe has the Carolina League pitcher of the year award for the 2018 season, when he went 11-0 with a 2.69 ERA for High-A Potomac.
Yean was ranked the 6th best prospect in the Nationals system prior to the trade. Yean signed with the Nationals from the Dominican Republic for $100,000. In 2019, Yean quickly rose through the prospect rankings for the Nationals, finishing with a 3.50 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings pitched between rookie ball and Single A Auburn.
Pirates GM Ben Cherington said of Bell's tenure in Pittsburgh that "I think in this case, this is one of those where I can honestly say that Josh is someone that we really respect and appreciate what he meant to the Pirates and how he played and how he wore the uniform and, on a personal level, truly liked and learned from."
Bell fills a hole at first base that has become big in recent weeks for the Nationals. Longtime National Ryan Zimmerman opted out of a one year deal for the 2020 season and it is unknown if he will play again. That, combined with Eric Thames becoming a free agent and Howie Kendrick retiring left a sizeable hole at first base, and Bell fills that hole quite nicely.
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