1 Starter, 1 Bat & 1 Bullpen Arm for Brewers to Target at Trade Deadline
By Paul Bretl
Brewers trade target to help the offense: Josh Bell, 1B/DH, Washington Nationals
With Rowdy Tellez, who owns an OPS+ of 120, along with Keson Hiura, Pedro Severino, and Jace Peterson as options at first base, the Brewers don’t exactly need another first basement from a defensive perspective.
However, as I would write recently, this is a Brewers offense that could use some additional consistency and thump in the middle of this lineup–right now, they don’t have that guy who can regularly come through when they need a big hit.
So if the best option that they have offensively at the trade deadline is another first baseman, like Josh Bell, or any infielder for that matter, worry about the defense later.
This season Bell continues to swing a hot bat since he joined Washington in 2021. Over 85 games, he is slashing .306/.389/.495 with 12 home runs and 20 extra-base hits.
As MLB Trade Rumors would mention, since May 1st of last season, Bell has a slash line of .292/.376/.501 in 856 plate appearances with 37 home runs, 39 doubles, and three triples. He has also walked 11.4% of the time and struck out in only 15.2% of his appearances.
As a switch-hitter, Bell has been effective on both sides of the plate in 2022, with a .895 OPS against righties and a .865 OPS against lefties.
Bell is a free agent following this season and is currently playing on a $10 million salary for this year that the Brewers would have to absorb a pro-rated version of.