The Miami Marlins solidified their lineup with Josh Bell at the Deadline

One year removed from Josh Bell fever, the Miami Marlins cashed in at the right time.  Marlins GM Kim Ng pulled some strings and got Josh Bell from the Cleveland Guardians for prospect Khalil Watson and Jean Segura.  Marlins fans can now rest easy after a very active and successful trade deadline.  

Could Josh Bell be the steal of the trade deadline?  I think he is, as the Marlins got to dump Segura’s salary on Cleveland for a much bigger return with Bell. Segura was hitting .219 with 3 home runs and 21 RBI for the season and getting paid way more than he should with those stats.  As I wrote previously, Kim Ng would be a deadline hero if she could dump Segura and his salary on a team and she did, big time win!

Josh Bell brings his own big salary but with much bigger potential and bigger stats. Bell is set to make $16.5 million this year and has a player option for next year and is represented by the oft hated Boras group.  Bell was paying dividends however this year.  He is slashing .233/.318/.383 with a .701 OPS and 11 home runs, 19 doubles, and 48 RBI.  Wow what a difference and good riddance to Jean Segura.  

Bell has huge upside as he is only a few years removed from his 27 home run 88 RBI year in 2021.  Bell’s 90.3 exit velocity is his highest since  2021 and if he can get more pitches due to the Marlins now revamped offense, he could be especially dangerous.   The best part of the trade is he has a player option for next season which he will most likely take due to the high number.  The Marlins now have a great contact hitter in Gurriel and a great power guy in Bell.  Kim Ng did the trade deadline perhaps as well as anyone.  The lineup will have a huge impact and I can’t wait to see it in action.  Great job Marlins front office!