Thoughts on the Pirates Trading Josh Bell to the Nationals

I have to admit that MLB has not aroused a great deal of positive intrigue from me especially where it concerned Justin Turner running out on the field to celebrate the Dodgers' World Series win after he had tested positive for COVID-19 and MLB not doing a damn thing about it. Nor was I thrilled with the Detroit Tigers hiring AJ Hinch or the Red Sox reuniting with Alex Cora.

But the Pittsburgh Pirates trading away slugger Josh Bell to the Washington Nationals for pitching prospects Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean the day before Christmas has peaked my curiosity.

Bell, 28, had a breakout season for the Bucs in 2019 hitting a career high .277 with 37 HR and 116 RBI earning his first NL All-Star Team selection. In the COVID shortened 2020 season, Bell's batting average fell more than 50 points to .226 with 8 HR and 22 RBI in 57 games played. 

Now here's where it gets interesting. If you look at Bell's 2019 season, the Texas born first baseman had an astounding first half hitting .302 with 27 HR and 84 RBI. Now that's a good season, but Bell did that in 88 games. Bell was driving in almost a run a game. He did his greatest damage to pitchers in May when he hit .390 with with 12 HR and 31 RBI. Needless to say, Bell earned NL Player of the Month honors.

But look at Bell's second half in 2019. In 55 games, he hit .233 with 10 HR and 32 RBI. These numbers are only slightly better than what he did in all of 2020. I guess the Pirates came to the conclusion that May 2019 was a career month for Bell and that his work in the second half of that season and this past season is more representative of his offensive output going forward. 

The Pirates 19-41 mark was also the worst in all of MLB in 2020. The Bucs need arms and managed two of the Nats' top pitching prospects who might bear fruit in 2022 or 2023. Meanwhile, Bell finds himself at a crossroads with something to prove. While it might be unrealistic to hit .390 every month, Bell is still young enough to be among baseball's premier sluggers and run producers and undoubtedly has the motivation to prove the Pirates wrong over the next two seasons in D.C. before he is eligible for free agency. On the other hand, the Pirates might have seen enough and managed to raid the Nats' best pitching right from under Mike Rizzo's nose. 

It is reasonable to argue the Pirates took a pragmatic view of Bell's future. It is equally plausible that Bell could become for the Nationals what Frank Robinson became for the Baltimore Orioles after he was jettisoned by the Cincinnati Reds more than half a century ago. This is what makes baseball interesting.