MN Twins Make Their First Free Agency Splash

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Josh Bell
Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images

Earlier this offseason, the Minnesota Twins suddenly shifted gears.

After months of rumors that they’d continue to the deconstruction process they started at the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline, president Derek Falvey announced that the Twins were NOT going to trade any more of their best players.

Instead, the front office was on the hunt to MODERATELY add more talent to their roster during the MLB Winter Meetings. were now looking to moderately add to the roster.

Right away, Falvey made it clear that the focus of their energy would be spent on upgrading the bullpen and first base. Rather than just give Kody Clemens the starting role, the Twins were looking for someone with more MLB cred at the position.

Josh Bell signs with Minnesota Twins

According to recent reports, Minnesota has been showing interest in Rhys Hoskins, Ryan O’Hearn, among others.

On Monday, though, the Falvey and the Twins took their first base swing — inking 33-year-old former All-Star and Silver Slugger winner, Josh Bell.

The deal is for a guaranteed $7 million. He’ll get $5.5 million in 2025 and has a $250,000 signing bonus. There’s also a $1.25 million mutual option buyout.

Bell is a former second round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates. His career has been up and down, and it’s seen a lot of stops.

Last season with the Washington Nationals, Josh Bell slashed .237/.325/.417 across 140 games, blasting 22 homers along the way. the same number he sent over the fence in 2023 and three more than 2024.

In 2019 with the Pirates, Bell hit .277/.367/.569 with 37 homers, en route to his lone All-Star Game appearance.

Terms of Bell’s deal have not yet been disclosed, but his contract is effectively a one-year deal. The mutual option is unlikely to be exercised, no matter the outcome of 2026.

A good season would move Bell to opt out, while and an underwhelming performance would force the Minnesota Twins to look somewhere else 10-12 months from now.

What should we expect from Josh Bell in 2026?

For the third-straight season the MN Twins will have a new starting first baseman. Carlos Santana took the role two years ago and won his first Gold Glove in 2024. Ty France was their answer last summer, and he played as well as could’ve been expected too.

It’s unlikely Bell finds 2019 success again, possibly because baseballs will never be that juiced up again. Nonetheless, he’s a capable switch-hitting slugger who will provide the Twins with a veteran who’s been there, done that.

The Minnesota Twins kick off Grapefruit League action down in Fort Myers on February 21, the first time we’ll get to see the latest Twin in action.

What about Kody Clemens?

While Kody Clemens was a solid find for the Falvey & Co. last season, entering the 2026 regular season with him as the starter would have been a stretch, to say the least.

Unfortunately there isn’t much of a platoon advantage for new manager Derek Shelton. Clemens owned a .482 OPS against lefties last season but Bell wasn’t much better with a .552 OPS.

At least for the start of Spring Training, I expect the Minnesota Twins to roll Bell out as their everyday first baseman, while Clemens shifts back to more of a utility role.

Bell has never posted positive numbers defensively at first base, so the Twins streak of winning Gold Gloves is almost certainly coming to an end.

That’s not great news for an infield that was leaky defensively with a talented first baseman. He helps the lineup though, and can be a trade piece if things go sideways this summer.

With Bell in tow, the most significant offensive addition has been addressed. Now it becomes time to focus on the bullpen and rebuild what was torn down last summer.

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