The Washington Nationals and first baseman Josh Bell have avoided arbitration, agreeing to a one-year, $10 million contract, per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Bell gets a boost from his $6.35 million he made in 2021.
The Nationals acquired Bell in a trade in December 2020 from the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he played five years. Last season in his first with Washington, he hit .261/.347/.476 with 27 home runs and 88 RBIs in 144 games.
Josh Bell is set to enter his last season under club control which means he’ll be a free agent next winter.
This season he’s expected to be cemented at first base with the retirement of Ryan Zimmerman. Bell will slot in the middle of the order most likely behind the lethal combo Juan Soto, who agreed to a $17.1M pre-arbitration deal, and recently-signed veteran slugger Nelson Cruz in the Nats lineup.
He’s a .261 career hitter with 113 home runs and 397 RBIs. In a contract year, Bell is pegged to benefit from being surrounded by Soto and Cruz. Maybe prove his worth to stick around Washington beyond 2022.
