A Surprising Upswing
Josh Bell, the Minnesota Twins' first baseman, has found a second wind as the trade deadline approaches. After a sluggish start to the 2026 campaign, the 30‑year‑old has posted a .299 average, a .351 on‑base percentage and a .529 slugging percentage in 94 plate appearances this June, adding four homers to his tally.
That surge has lifted his season line to .243/.300/.395 with nine home runs and a negative 0.1 fWAR across 82 games, while his 51 RBIs place him tied for 22nd in the league. Bell’s playoff pedigree also looms large; in 12 career postseason games he bats .295 with two homers, giving contending clubs a proven October weapon.
The first‑base market is thin, and the Arizona Diamondbacks sit at the bottom of the league with a 54 wRC+ from that position. Bell’s prior stint in Arizona saw him post a 120 OPS+ over 41 games, a performance that still resonates with the club’s front office as they evaluate a possible reunion.
Other suitors are circling. The Kansas City Royals sit seven games back in the wild‑card race, while the Oakland Athletics sit at 40‑44 and are flirting with a playoff spot. Both teams could use a right‑handed bat with pop, and Bell’s left‑handed power would complement their lineups.
The New York Mets, reeling after firing manager Carlos Mendoza and struggling to replace Pete Alonso’s production, are also mentioned as a potential landing spot. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians, despite a shaky designated‑hitter group, remain tied for the division lead and could view Bell as a piece to solidify their offense.
With the deadline looming, Bell’s agent and the Twins front office will have to weigh his modest overall numbers against the upside of a hot June and the leverage of a market that values playoff experience. Whatever the outcome, the next few weeks could reshape the first‑base landscape across the league.