📢 TOP STORY: After Years of Damage, a Phillies Foe Takes His Act Elsewhere With a Free Agency Exit From the NL East ⚡.DD
See ya!
Phillies fans can breathe a huge sigh of relief as a player that has been a thorn in their side for years is now officially out of the NL East once again!
Josh Bell, the journeyman power-hitting first baseman, is now a member of the Minnesota Twins after signing a one-year $7 million contract with a mutual option for the 2027 season.
He is expected to play a role at first base and DH and provides the club with a power threat and veteran leadership, both of which are much needed on a young Twins team.
Bell, 33, spent the 2025 campaign with the Washington Nationals where he hit 22 home runs in 140 games in his second stint with the club.
He performed well against right-handed pitchers as he hit .265 with 18 home runs and 53 RBIs.
His performance against left-handers, however, left much to be desired as he hit an abysmal .151 with 4 home runs.
During his 10-year career so far, he has bounced around the league, spending time with the Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Miami Marlins, Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Overall he has a .256 average with 193 home runs and 676 RBIs in 1,287 games.
Josh Bell has performed very well against the Phillies in his career
Throughout his career, though, there has been one thing that has not changed and that is his success against the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 81 games against the Phillies, Bell has clobbered 16 home runs to go along with 54 RBIs and 31 runs scored.
To put that into perspective, if he played against the Phillies for an entire season he would finish with 32 home runs and 108 RBIs both of which are well above his career 162-game averages of 24 and 85, respectively.
The most fascinating part about his success against the Phillies is his solid numbers against ace Zack Wheeler.
In 45 at-bats, he is slashing .289/.333/.578 with four home runs and nine RBIs, showcasing some big-time power against one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.
Barring an unforeseen trade during the season or injury, Phillies fans will be able to see Bell in action in August when the Phillies travel to take on the Twins in a three-game series.
Their first matchup will be at the Field of Dreams game on Aug. 13 in Dyersville, Iowa on Netflix while the next two will take place in Minnesota.
