3 Teams That Should Try to Steal Josh Bell From Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates are under new leadership with Ben Cherington at the GM position. And with owner Bob Nutting saying that nobody on the roster is untouchable, the one piece the Pirates have that could fetch a huge haul is All-Star first baseman Josh Bell.

Cherington will begin flipping this ballclub upside down, and with Bell unlikely to sign a long-term extension before he becomes a free agent in 2023, now may be the best time to move him, especially since he's coming off a season where he hit 37 home runs with 116 RBI and a .936 OPS.

Here are three teams who should try and steal Josh Bell away from the Pirates.

3. Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers are in a rebuild themselves and they looked like the worst team in baseball in 2019, but Josh Bell is someone who could anchor first base for years to come and be the foundation of their rebuild. With the prospect depth Detroit has, especially in the pitching department, they could make this a reality.

2. Minnesota Twins

C.J. Cron is Minnesota's current first baseman, and even though he had a nice campaign in 2019, he's not good enough to block a Bell trade. Adding Bell to a lineup that already led the league in homers last year would be downright nasty and could help further the Twins' postseason endeavors.

1. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers are moving into a new ballpark in 2020 and they need some star power walking through the door. Texas native Anthony Rendon certainly fits that description, but so does Bell, who went to high school in Dallas. Adding Bell could be more feasible than signing one of the top free agents on the market. The Rangers don't have a long-term option at first base, and they had some of the worst production from that position in 2019. A first baseman who grew up in Texas seems like a perfect fit for both parties.