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MN Twins Make Their First Free Agency Splash
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- MN Twins Make Their First Free Agency Splash
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Earlier this offseason the Minnesota Twins suggested a desire to avoid trading their stars and an intention to add . It was always going to be a wait and see situation there, but Derek Falvey pulled the trigger on Monday morning.
First base was clearly the most important place to add offensively. Rather than just give Kody Clemens the starting role, someone needed to come in as the established answer. Considering a trio of Rhys Hoskins , Ryan O'Hearn, and Josh Bell , it was the former Washington Nationals slugger that answered the call.
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Josh Bell signs with Minnesota Twins
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 . Ty France was the answer last season and followed in his footsteps . Now it will be Josh Bell, and the club would love to see similar results.
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First baseman Josh Bell and the Minnesota Twins are in agreement on a one-year contract with a mutual option, sources tell ESPN. Bell, 33, is a switch hitter who will play at first and DH for a Twins team making its first big league signing of the winter.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 15, 2025
Terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed, but Bell's contract is effectively a one-year deal. The mutual option is unlikely to be exercised as a good year would have Bell opting out, and a bad year wouldn't interest Minnesota in a reunion.
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Bells is a former second round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates . The 33-year-old owned a .237/.325/.417 slash line for the Nationals last season. Across 140 games, he blasted 22 homers which tied his 2023 mark. In 2019 with the Pirates, Bell hit .277/.367/.569 with 37 homers en route to his lone All-Star Game appearance.
Old friend, Josh Bell, is reportedly headed to the Twins on a one-year deal
Still proved a servicable bat in 2025, hitting .237/.325/.417/.741 (110 OPS+) pic.twitter.com/23XsWyV975— Louis Addeo-Weiss (@addeo_louis00) December 15, 2025
It will forever be unlikely that Bell finds the success of that juiced ball season, but he's a capable switch-hitting slugger that provides insurance for Kody Clemens. Clemens was a good find for Minnesota last season, but likely would have been stretched in a starting role.
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 . It's more straightforward to roll bell out as an every day option, and sprinkle Clemens in as a utility type.
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.
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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 .
The Minnesota Twins kick off Grapefruit League action down in Fort Myers on February 21.
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