5 sluggers teams should already be thinking about buying at the trade deadline

MLB Trade Rumors: Josh Bell might be the hottest name in the rumor mill

For the second straight season, switch-hitting slugger Josh Bell is likely to be traded. The longtime member of the Pittsburgh Pirates was dealt to the Nationals last year for two pitching prospects and immediately hit 27 home runs and drove in 88 runs for the Nats in his first season with the club.

A free agent at season’s end, Bell still has a ton of thump in his bat and is a decent defender at first base who is also capable of making some cameo appearances in the corner outfield for an interested club.

To begin the year, the 29-year old is already worth 1.3 bWAR and has four home runs to go with a .349 batting average and 21 RBI. He appears to be on track to make his second career All-Star Game as he is by far the most productive member of this Nationals team this year.

Long known to have a problem with his strikeouts, Bell significantly lowered his K% in 2021 down to 17.8% after hitting 26.5% in 2020. So far in 2022, he has been able to do something that most offensive players can’t anymore and that’s draw more walks (17) than strikeouts (15) through 130 plate appearances. While this pace likely will not last, it’s a welcome sign for the streaky Bell.

As far as potential landing spots for him, Bell could find himself in many different uniforms come the August trade deadline. The White Sox are an interesting fit as they currently have an aging Jose Abreu at first base and an unproven Gavin Sheets as the club’s everyday designated hitter.