The Guardians never got the type of return on investment they had hoped to receive from Josh Bell , and they've now ensured they can get out from under his contract for next season.
The Guardians have dealt Bell to the Miami Marlins in exchange for infielder Jean Segura and middle infield prospect Khalil Watson. The club has confirmed the trade. Segura will be released before reporting, effectively making it a salary dump for future seasons in addition to the addition of Watson.
The deal was also made possible thanks to the club's acquisition of first base prospect Kyle Manzardo from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for starting pitcher Aaron Civale .
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In 97 games with the Guardians, Bell hit .233 with a .701 OPS, 11 home runs, 19 doubles and 48 RBIs. He had started to produce a bit more, hitting .261 with a .727 OPS over the last four weeks, but for the most part, Bell struggled to get the ball in the air, and was eventually moved down the order in favor of Josh Naylor , who has been slotted behind Ramirez.
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This past winter, Bell signed a two-year, $33 million deal that includes a player opt-out for next season. The Guardians signed him to offer some switch-hitting lineup protection for Jose Ramirez , but that never really materialized.
In addition to what's left of his $6.5 million salary this season, Segura had a base salary of $8.5 million for next year and a $2 million buyout for 2025. The Guardians are simply paying that, releasing Segura and adding Watson to offload Bell's contract. This deal will save the Guardians $6 million in 2024.
Watson, 20, was the Marlins' 11th-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He has primarily played shortstop and second base, meaning he'll be added to the stockpile of middle infield prospects the Guardians have throughout their minor league system. He was the 16th overall selection in the 2021 draft.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians trade Josh Bell to Miami Marlins for Jean Segura
