LATEST REPORT: $16 Million Slugger To Be ‘Value Option’ for Yankees at 2024 Trade Deadline
The New York Yankees may have lost their series finale on May 26 against the San Diego Padres, but they remain one of baseball’s top teams. With a 37-18 record, they hold a two-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. As the July 30 trade deadline approaches, the Yankees are likely to seek reinforcements for their playoff push. One potential target could be Miami Marlins slugger Josh Bell.
Dylan Sanders of Sports Illustrated suggests that general manager Brian Cashman should consider pursuing Bell, especially since the left-handed hitter has been on a hot streak after a slow start to the season. Bell is currently batting .228/.311/.355 over 223 plate appearances in 2024, but his numbers have improved significantly to .296/.370/.457 in 92 plate appearances in May.
Bell is in the second year of a two-year, $33 million contract and is earning $16.5 million this season, according to Spotrac. Due to his inconsistent offensive production in recent years, Sanders believes that Bell could be acquired for a relatively low cost, making him a “value option” for teams looking to bolster their lineup.
Bell Was Linked to the Yankees Earlier This Season
Miami’s poor 6-24 start in 2024 prompted them to become early-season sellers. Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo’s performance for New York has been inconsistent in his first 221 plate appearances, resulting in a .697 OPS. Therefore, acquiring another power-hitting first baseman could be advantageous for the team.
The Yankees have been previously linked to Bell earlier in the season. According to Bleacher Report’s Tim Kelly on April 17, the Yankees were listed as one of Bell’s “ideal landing spots.” Kelly suggested that Bell could be a suitable addition for the Yankees if Rizzo and/or Giancarlo Stanton fail to improve their performance.
Despite a slow start, Stanton has shown improvement with an OPS of .797, 13 homers, and 29 RBI in 187 plate appearances this season. His performance has been on an upward trend over the past two months. Conversely, Rizzo’s monthly OPS has declined from March/April (.737) to May (.636 in 90 plate appearances).
Getting Traded at the Deadline Would Be Nothing New for Bell
Being traded is undoubtedly a peculiar experience for players, especially when it occurs midseason. For Bell, however, this has become somewhat routine over the past couple of years.
Since 2022, he has played for four different teams and has been traded at each of the last two deadlines. His journey began when he moved from the Washington Nationals to the Padres at the 2022 deadline. Following his signing with the Cleveland Guardians, he was subsequently traded to the Marlins before the 2023 deadline.
Interestingly, his performance varied significantly in each of these scenarios. He excelled with the Nationals, batting .301/.384/.493, but struggled after joining the Padres, where he slashed just .192/.316/.271. However, the following year saw a reversal of fortunes as he posted a .701 OPS with the Guardians, which then surged to .818 with Miami during the latter part of the season.
It’s unclear whether these fluctuations can be attributed solely to the unpredictability of baseball or if Bell has gleaned insights from his initial trade experience in 2022. Regardless, as a left-handed hitter, he may have another opportunity to validate one of these theories this season. Wherever he lands, it’s likely that he’ll have to adapt to yet another new team before the start of the 2025 Opening Day.