Return engagement: Josh Bell & Trevor Williams

[blue911]

Asdrubal Cabrera, any others?

Tommy Milone

[JCA-CrystalCity]

Ugh: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-nationals-will-be-there-with-josh-bell-on/

I didn't see much in there that was surprising or cause me to change my opinion that this signing improves dh over 2024. The 1 season deterioration in contact quality is new info to me, but other than that, hitting better than 100 wRC+ improves our dh spot, and his upside is a legit middle of the order bat. I suspect heplays in a platoon, so that improves his floor even more.

[nobleisthyname]

Fangraphs write-up on the Trevor Williams signing:

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/pitcher-potpourri-trevor-williams-joe-ross-and-caleb-thielbar-find-homes/

In 2024, he actually lost a tick off his fastball, dropping to 88.9 mph; the movement profile was nearly identical [as 2023]. And yet, across his injury-shortened 66.2 innings of work, he dominated hitters with the “heater.” Williams allowed just three home runs last year; only one came off the four-seamer.

His sweeper usage increased from 3% in 2023 to 21% in 2024, becoming his second-most used pitch after the four-seamer.

Nobody threw their sweeper less frequently in the heart of the zone; by throwing his pitches where hitters can’t hurt him, Williams maximizes his low stuff profile. He’s never been a workhorse, but at two years and $14 million, the Nationals are paying sixth starter prices for someone with 80 grade command. Even with the obvious limitations, that feels like a solid bet.

[imref]

Bell tells Andrew Golden that he told Soto to take the Nats' extension offer.

[Ali the Baseball Cat]

Does Bell get a consultant fee?

[imref]

Zuck notes from Josh Bell's meeting with reporters today:

He also spoke about the way he intends to emphasize slugging over contact, avoiding double plays that plagued him in past: "I have a big frame, and I should probably hit more than 19 home runs a season."

Also says it will be weird to take the field with all the players he was traded for in 2022.

[PowerBoater69]

Emilio Bonifácio

Hopefully Bell has more impact on his return than some of these guys did.

Tommy Milone   0.3   -0.1
Emilio Bonifácio   0.2   -0.1
Asdrubal Cabrera   0.4   1.1
Livan Hernandez   3.1   3.2
Edwin Jackson   2.1   -0.1
Tyler Clippard   9.9   -0.1
Kurt Suzuki   0.0   0.7
Matt Adams   1.4   0.5
Josh Bell   6.4   

[IanRubbish]

Hopefully Bell has more impact on his return than some of these guys did.

Tommy Milone   0.3   -0.1
Emilio Bonifácio   0.2   -0.1
Asdrubal Cabrera   0.4   1.1
Livan Hernandez   3.1   3.2
Edwin Jackson   2.1   -0.1
Tyler Clippard   9.9   -0.1
Kurt Suzuki   0.0   0.7
Matt Adams   1.4   0.5
Josh Bell   6.4

The Nats were 29th in DH OPS last year, I mean they started Keibert and his .619 OPS there 10 times.  Bell won't exactly be Big Papi there, but will undoubtedly be an improvement.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The Nats were 29th in DH OPS last year, I mean they started Keibert and his .619 OPS there 10 times.  Bell won't exactly be Big Papi there, but will undoubtedly be an improvement.

this. Getting even 100 wRC+ will be an improvement even if it is below league average at DH. I expect DH to be even better than that if they platoon Bell with a masher of LHP like Chaparro or Yepez.  If the Nats can manage close to league average out of DH, which I think they can if they platoon, it'll be going from 95 wRC+ to 114. Coincidentally, Bell's career wRC+ vs. RHP is 114.

[PowerBoater69]

On the topic of guys who left and came back, this guy on Twitter took my idea but got a ton of them we missed. Including personal favorites Zack Day and Ray King.

https://x.com/_SoundTheHorne/status/1876006424301760917?t=JBJdpZX9zjJqUhjHFqt2cQ&s=19

[Slateman]

this. Getting even 100 wRC+ will be an improvement even if it is below league average at DH. I expect DH to be even better than that if they platoon Bell with a masher of LHP like Chaparro or Yepez.  If the Nats can manage close to league average out of DH, which I think they can if they platoon, it'll be going from 95 wRC+ to 114. Coincidentally, Bell's career wRC+ vs. RHP is 114.

99 wRC+ the last two seasons.

Meanwhile, Yepez is a 105 wRC+ against RHP. So we are wasting 6 million that could be put towards a decent reliever, or combined with the wasted money on Soroka and Williams and put towards an genuinely useful pitcher.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

99 wRC+ the last two seasons.

Meanwhile, Yepez is a 105 wRC+ against RHP. So we are wasting 6 million that could be put towards a decent reliever, or combined with the wasted money on Soroka and Williams and put towards an genuinely useful pitcher.

Three separate questions here. One is does it improve the team over 2024?  Second, does it improve the team over what was already on-board for 2025? The final question is whether this is the best use of money for a team presumed to be on a limited budget? I'm really only dealing with #1. I probably don't disagree with you on question #3 (not the best use of the $$). I think that it does improve the team over what was already here because our primary in house DH candidates don't have a great history of hitting same-handed pitching.

[Slateman]

Three separate questions here. One is does it improve the team over 2024?  Second, does it improve the team over what was already on-board for 2025? The final question is whether this is the best use of money for a team presumed to be on a limited budget? I'm really only dealing with #1. I probably don't disagree with you on question #3 (not the best use of the $$). I think that it does improve the team over what was already here because our primary in house DH candidates don't have a great history of hitting same-handed pitching.

1. No. Yepez plus addition player(s) is better than Bell

2. No, see previous answer.

3. It's not.

[Natsinpwc]

The Yepez numbers are SSS. It’s not at all clear he can do that over the long term. Teams will get a book on him. Not saying they should have signed Bell.

[Natsinpwc]

Three separate questions here. One is does it improve the team over 2024?  Second, does it improve the team over what was already on-board for 2025? The final question is whether this is the best use of money for a team presumed to be on a limited budget? I'm really only dealing with #1. I probably don't disagree with you on question #3 (not the best use of the $$). I think that it does improve the team over what was already here because our primary in house DH candidates don't have a great history of hitting same-handed pitching.

They are hiring Bell to be a positive influence on CJ.  That's probably more important at this time than 1B production. 

[English Natsie]

They are hiring Bell to be a positive influence on CJ.  That's probably more important at this time than 1B production.

He'll sit CJ down, and tell him a story...

[Slateman]

The Yepez numbers are SSS. It’s not at all clear he can do that over the long term. Teams will get a book on him. Not saying they should have signed Bell.

But it's clear what Bell can't do over the long term and that's be a DH. He has posted a 87 wRC+ in his career as a DH. The last three seasons he's posted a 92 wRC+. He doesn't like DHing. So yea, I want to see what Yepez's small sample size comes out to in a full season.

They are hiring Bell to be a positive influence on CJ.  That's probably more important at this time than 1B production. 

That's bullcrap too. You're telling me that Santander can't be a positive influence? That Joc Pederson can't be a positive influence? This team doesn't have at bats to give away to positive influences who can't hit.

[imref]

That's bullcrap too. You're telling me that Santander can't be a positive influence? That Joc Pederson can't be a positive influence? This team doesn't have at bats to give away to positive influences who can't hit.

The could always just hire Bell as a coach.

[varoadking]

The could always just hire Bell as a coach.

...or Trade CJ like they should anyway...

[Slateman]

...or Trade CJ like they should anyway...

This team is in no position to trade away 3.5 WAR players before they hit arbitration

[varoadking]

This team is in no position to trade away 3.5 WAR players before they hit arbitration

He's a head case...like Vic...

[Slateman]

He's a head case...like Vic...

Yea, Vic never put up back to back seasons like CJ has. He's just bored and stays out late. Don't act like he's the first. Petr Rose made it a HoF worthy career. Patt Burrell, Wade Boggs, Mickey Mantle, Mike Cameron, Lenny Dykstra ... all partied hard and stayed out.

There's zero reason to trade him as you will get nothing in return. Everyone will assume he's getting dealt because he has a problem.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

The problem with Bell is less Bell and more the alternatives they should have gone after harder. I don't think Joc would have come here even if we added $2 million over what he signed for (which was a lot more than what I think he should have gotten), but I'd still like to have seen whether anyone would have matched 4 years, $20 million AAV, for Santander. Even if there was a problem keeping that offer open, it probably was not pressing to have to sign Bell now, especially before Jesse Winker signs somewhere.

All that said, I think Bell improves the DH position as a lefty. I expect a Bell platoon with Chaparro, Garrett, or Yepez to be massively better than what we ran out last year. If the approach to this year is another year of seeing what guys can do rather than contending for a WC, perhaps we would have been better off giving those ABs to one of those righties to see if they could hit righties adequately, or perhaps we should have signed an every day 3rd baseman to allow Tena to get those ABs, but I think a Bell platoon along with Lowe at 1st gives this team 4 more wins than last year.