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• Nationals' Josh Bell: Socks first spring homer

  25D ago • By RotoWire

  Bell went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals. Bell took Miles Mikolas deep in the first inning for his first long ball of the spring. The 32-year-old slugger is expected to be the regular DH for the Nationals this season while backing up Nathaniel Lowe at first base, and Bell posted the best numbers of his career during his first stint with Washington in 2021-22, slashing .278/.363/.483 over 247 games with 41 homers and 145 RBI.

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• Nationals' Josh Bell: Returns to Washington

  12/30/2024 • By RotoWire

  Bell signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the Nationals on Sunday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports. Bell will return to Washington, where he previously played in 2021 and part of 2022. The 32-year-old played in 145 games between the Marlins and Diamondbacks in 2024, batting .249 with 19 home runs, 71 RBI and 62 runs scored. With Nathaniel Lowe set to hold down first base with the Nationals this season, Bell will likely use his switch-hitting ability to operate as the team's primary designated hitter in 2025.

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• Diamondbacks' Josh Bell: Losing at-bats

  09/22/2024 • By RotoWire

  Bell entered as a pinch hitter and went 0-for-1 in Saturday's 5-0 win over Milwaukee. Bell stayed in the game to serve as the designated hitter but didn't get any more plate appearances. Saturday's appearance was his first since last Sunday. The September returns of Christian Walker, Ketel Marte and more recently, Lourdes Gurriel, give the Diamondbacks more lineup options, limiting Bell's opportunities. Bell, who had 112 plate appearances during the month of August over 26 games, has just 43 this month with seven games left in the regular season.

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• Diamondbacks' Josh Bell: Back in lineup Sunday

  09/08/2024 • By RotoWire

  Bell will start at first base and bat cleanup in Sunday's game against the Astros. Bell was on the bench for the first two games of the series, but he'll move back into the starting nine for the finale while Ketel Marte and Christian Walker get the evening off. Though Marte should eventually reclaim a full-time role at second base after being eased back in the lineup at designated hitter in the previous two contests, Arizona likely won't have room in the lineup for Bell against right-handed pitching while Walker and Joc Pederson occupy first base and the DH spot, respectively. Bell should at least replace the lefty-hitting Pederson in the lineup when the Diamondbacks face left-handed pitching.

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• Diamondbacks' Josh Bell: Slides to DH

  09/04/2024 • By RotoWire

  Bell served as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with an RBI in Tuesday's 8-7 win over San Francisco. Bell, who had been the primary first baseman for the last month, moved to DH as Christian Walker returned to first base after being activated off the 10-day injured list. Bell acquitted himself well as a replacement, batting .283 with an .809 OPS over 28 games, and should see work as the DH against left-handers going forward.

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