The Cleveland Guardians need to bring in a big bat or two this offseason after another playoff exit made it clear that the lineup doesn’t have enough power to bring home a championship. So far, fans are still waiting for the Guardians to do something.
To make matters worse, an AL Central rival has signed a former Guardians infielder who has provided solid production throughout his MLB career.
“First baseman Josh Bell and the Minnesota Twins are in agreement on a one-year contract with a mutual option, sources tell ESPN. Bell, 33, is a switch-hitter who will play at first and DH for a Twins team making its first big league signing of the winter,” Jeff Passan wrote on X.
First baseman Josh Bell and the Minnesota Twins are in agreement on a one-year contract with a mutual option, sources tell ESPN. Bell, 33, is a switch hitter who will play at first and DH for a Twins team making its first big league signing of the winter.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 15, 2025
While the Twins don’t appear close to contention, they now have a proven and consistent power bat in the heart of their lineup to help provide offense.
The 10-year veteran spent part of the 2023 season with Cleveland and posted a .701 OPS in 97 games, which was one of the least productive stints of his career. Last season, he started slowly for the Washington Nationals, but he got hot down the stretch and posted a solid .237/.325/.417 slash line with 22 home runs and 63 RBIs in 140 games.
Minnesota likely doesn’t have a path to being competitive in 2026 after making multiple moves at the trade deadline last season. Foundational players Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez were kept in place, but the Twins shouldn’t be a threat to the Guardians in the division, though Cleveland has to start getting aggressive on the free agent market.
Bell would have been a nice, affordable pickup for Cleveland, given how versatile and powerful he is. But the Guardians will keep looking for improvements elsewhere.
Things have been quiet on all fronts, but a roster move could happen sooner rather than later.
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