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Top 20 free agents & where they’ll sign part 2

By Neil Raymond

CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 23: José Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox hits an RBI single in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 23, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 23: José Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox hits an RBI single in the third inning against the Detroit Tigers at Guaranteed Rate Field on September 23, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /
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The Miami Marlins need to spend more money in free agency, and there’s definitely a road to the playoffs in 2023. We will probably do more in trades than in free agency, but it’s still intriguing to see who will sign where. Let’s take a look at the top 20 free agents and where they will probably sign, as well as for how much. This is part 2 with part 1 found here. Let’s begin….

11. Josh Bell, 1B

Josh Bell
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 23: Josh Bell #24 of the San Diego Padres swings and hits the ball in the seventh inning of Game Five of the National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park on October 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Matt Thomas/San Diego Padres/Getty Images) /

4 Years/$64 Million with the Houston Astros

Josh Bell is one of the top first basemen available on the free agent market. In 2022, Bell played for both the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres. It was a tale of two very different seasons. He batted .301/.384/.493 with Washington in 103 games and 375 AB, with 14 home runs and 57 RBI. After the trade to San Diego however, he batted .192/.316/.271 with 3 home runs and 14 RBI in 53 games and 177 AB. Bell’s full season total was .266/.362/.422 in 156 games and 552 AB, with 17 HR and 71 RBI. He was worth 3.0 WAR.

This type of inconsistency is not uncommon for Josh Bell. For example, he batted .261/.357/.411 in 2018 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and then .277/.367/.569 for them the following year. Bell batted .226/.305/.364 in 2020 (again for Pittsburgh), but then .261/.347/.476 for Washington.

Bell is a career .262/.351/.459 hitter who as you can see has a reputation as being streaky. I suspect that the streamlines will scare quite a few teams off. Bell has a case for 4 years, and a $16 million annual value makes sense as well. The lack of a qualifying offer helps his case even further. Houston needs a first baseman and they can afford his price tag.

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