Bell’s deal, which is pending a physical examination, will guarantee him $7 million, two people familiar with the contract told the Minnesota Star Tribune. He will receive a $5.5 million base salary in 2026 and a $250,000 signing bonus. There is a $1.25 million buyout on a 2027 mutual option.
Bell, a 33-year-old switch hitter, is joining his sixth team in the past five years. He batted .237 with 22 homers and 63 RBI in 140 games with the Washington Nationals this past season.
The Twins sought a power hitter this offseason, and first base was the biggest question mark outside of the bullpen. Kody Clemens and Edouard Julien, both lefthanded hitters, were the top internal candidates at the position. Bell has hit at least 20 homers in five seasons, and he won a National League Silver Slugger Award in 2022.
At the winter meetings last week, Twins General Manager Jeremy Zoll said the team was seeking “another bat or two with some thump, with some impact.” Bell showed improvement this past season. His average exit velocity climbed (88.9 mph in 2024 to 90.4 mph in 2025). His walk rate went up, and his strikeout rate decreased.
The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Bell hit .284 with a .371 on-base percentage and an .857 OPS over the final three months of the season.
Bell immediately adds power to a Twins lineup that had only two 20-homer hitters in 2025 (Byron Buxton and Matt Wallner) and three hitters who produced at least 60 RBI (Buxton, Brooks Lee and Trevor Larnach).
The downside is Bell has rated poorly defensively over the past three seasons, and he started 97 games at designated hitter for the Nationals this past season (with only 32 starts at first base). The Twins will likely have him split time between the two positions.
