Josh Bell Opens Up About His Future With the Twins

Designated hitter Josh Bell only needed one season with the Minnesota Twins to feel at home, and now the two sides have to figure out whether he stays.

He signed a one-year, $7 million deal in December that came with a mutual option for 2027, so both Bell and the club have to agree to pick it up before he can come back on those terms.

His first season ended with 21 home runs and 96 RBIs in 154 games, and nobody on the team drove in more runs.

The 21st homer came in the 6-4 win over the Texas Rangers in the season finale at Target Field on Sept. 27, as the Twins wrapped up a 77-85 year that left them third in the American League Central.

Bell talked about his first year with the Twins around that last game, and when he was asked whether he would like to return next season, he gave a warm answer to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder that still kept his options open.

"My family loves it here and my wife loves it here. The vibes in this clubhouse are special. We'll see what happens in a month or two," Bell said.

Bell also said that he figured out how good the clubhouse was a couple of months into the season, and he gave a lot of the credit to center fielder Byron Buxton for leading the way.

Manager Derek Shelton returned the favor in the same story when he talked about that clubhouse before the finale, and he pointed to Bell's leadership as part of why it worked so well.

The clubhouse fit is nice, but the bat is the main reason I would bring him back.

He is an 11-year veteran and a switch-hitter who was in the lineup for 154 games on a team that needed steady production in the middle of the order, especially after Buxton had season-ending hip surgery in September.

The Twins are hoping Buxton is ready for 2027, but they cannot count on a full season from him, so a proven run producer would help a lot, even with third baseman Brooks Lee turning into a Gold Glove finalist after the club moved him off shortstop.

The lineup also has real questions about who handles first base next season, and Bell can play there or at designated hitter.

Twins chairman Tom Pohlad has said he expects the payroll to go up in 2027, and keeping a hitter who already fits in this room should be part of how that money gets spent.

The front office is already busy after the Twins hired a new pitching coach on Wednesday, and Bell's option should be one of the first things they settle.

His deal includes a $1.25 million buyout, and if either side turns down the option, he can become a free agent.

Since Bell is 34, a short deal makes the most sense for both sides.

I would pick up the option or work out a new one-year contract, because a 96-RBI hitter whose family loves it here is a lot easier to keep than to replace this winter.