Fansided

MLB rumors: 3 teams that should trade for Pirates slugger Josh Bell

By Steven Kubitza

PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 28: Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on July 28, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 28: Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates in action during the game against the Milwaukee Brewers at PNC Park on July 28, 2020 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Josh Bell, Houston Astros
HOUSTON, TX – JUNE 27: Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a two-run home run in the third inning against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park on June 27, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Houston Astros

The Astros have a first baseman in Yuli Gurriel. So why Bell?

Acquiring the Pirates slugger would be all about making him a full-time DH. Michael Brantley held down that job for nearly half of the 2020 season and he is now a free agent. Him leaving, along with George Springer, allows some younger talent to get time in the outfield. It also opens up DH for someone like Bell with proper MLB experience.

The best thing about such a trade is that it’s not a rental. Bell is under team control for two more years and would join an Astros team ready to compete during that window of time.

The Astros are also a team that won’t feel the need to trade Bell next offseason when he enters his final year of arbitration. That franchise has the ability to spend and can have a key player in a contract year knowing they may walk at the end of the season. That is not the case for rebuilding teams, such as the Pirates.

Losing Springer takes some real power out of the lineup. Adding Bell would be a nice consolation on offense if he can return to his pre-2020 form.

Home/Pittsburgh Pirates