Inside The Twins

Twins sign powerful first baseman Josh Bell to a one-year deal, reports say

Bell got off to a miserable start last season, but that may have had a lot to do with a swing change that we wound up ditching.
Joe Nelson|
Sep 8, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell (19) circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Sep 8, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell (19) circles the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images | Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Minnesota Twins

Josh Bell will be playing first base for the Minnesota Twins in 2026.

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, the Twins and Bell have agreed to a one-year contract. How much money the Twins are paying Bell hasn't been disclosed.

Bell homered 22 times while batting .237/.325/.417 in 140 games with the Nationals last season. He has 193 homers in his 10-year career, which peaked with 37 homers in the 2019 season.

One has to wonder, however, if 37 homers is within reach for Bell since he accomplished it during the 2019 season when the baseballs were allegedly juiced, leading to the Twins' "Bomba Squad" setting the MLB record with 307 home runs.

A lot was made in D.C. of Bell's 2025 season, which started with a swing change that resulted in an awful first six weeks. In March and April, Bell hit .137 with a .503 OPS. From May 1 through the end of the season, he hit .265 with an .807 OPS. His OPS over the final four months of 2026 was .845.

What fueled his surge? He ditched the preseason swing change and went back to his old swing. One would imagine that the Twins won't mess with Bell's swing in 2026.

With Bell, the Twins have a veteran switch-hitter who can provide pop and balance to the middle of a batting order that has the potential to be fairly potent. Of course, health and growth will be necessary with a lineup full of inconsistent players.

  1. 2B Luke Keaschall
  2. RF Matt Wallner
  3. CF Byron Buxton
  4. 3B Royce Lewis
  5. 1B Josh Bell
  6. C Ryan Jeffers
  7. DH Kody Clemens
  8. SS Brooks Lee
  9. LF Trevor Larnach

The Twins clearly have some money to spend, with a report from The Athletic's Dan Hayes suggesting they could have $20 million to work with.

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Joe Nelson
JOE NELSON

Joe Nelson has more than 20 years of experience in Minnesota sports journalism. Nelson began his career in sports radio, working at smaller stations in Marshall and St. Cloud before moving to the highly-rated KFAN-FM 100.3 in the Twin Cities. While there, he produced the popular mid-morning show hosted by Minnesota Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen. His time in radio laid the groundwork for his transition to sports writing in 2011. He covers the Vikings, Timberwolves, Gophers and Twins for On SI.

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