3 players the Pittsburgh Pirates should drop like a bad habit

3 players Pirates need to drop like a bad habit

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 25: Josh Bell #55 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrates with Gregory Polanco #25 after both scored on a homer by Polanco during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on September 25, 2020 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

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Credit: Jamie Sabau/Getty Images /

2. 1B Josh Bell

Josh Bell had a down 2020 campaign, with a .226/.305/.364 slash line with eight home runs and 22 RBI. He had a great 2019 season, with 37 home runs, 116 RBI and a .936 OPS, but he struggled in the second half (.233/.351/.429 slash line). The first half that earned him an All-Star selection (.302/.376/.648, 1.024 OPS, 27 home runs, 84 RBI) seems far away right now. With the added scope of what he did (or didn’t do) in 2018 (12 home runs, .768 OPS over 583 plate appearances), we have an 88-game surge surrounded by 260 games of no so great over the last three seasons.

Bell has one more year of arbitration control left after this one, and he’s getting more expensive. It’s unclear if the Pirates could trade him if they wanted to, but the New York Yankees reportedly have some interest.

Heard today from a couple sources that the Pirates and Yankees have had conversations involving Jameson Taillon and Josh Bell. Unsure on seriousness or scope, but it’s an interesting match.
— Jason Mackey (@JMackeyPG) December 9, 2020

Not that long ago, Bell looked like he could become the new face of the Pirates’ franchise. Now he’s legit trade bait, even if the return wouldn’t be great shy of him being packaged with someone else..

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