2023 Marlins Season Review: Josh Bell

Relive all of the ups and downs of the 2023 Miami Marlins with our Fish On First Season Review, containing detailed articles about a wide variety of players. The FOF staff analyzes the individual impact that each of them had and what it means for their future with the organization.

This installment focuses on first baseman Josh Bell.

Overall season stats: 150 G, .247/.325/.419, 105 wRC+, 22 HR, 74 RBI, 0.4 fWAR (age-30 season)

Marlins stats: 53 G, .270/.338/.480, 119 wRC+, 11 HR, 26 RBI, 0.7 fWAR

When Josh Bell was traded to the Marlins at the trade deadline, many fans were just happy to get rid of Jean Segura in exchange for the slugging first baseman from the Cleveland Guardians. No matter what Bell’s performance would be with Miami, many saw the trade as a win simply because they didn’t have to see any more of Segura and his 52 OPS+ that he recorded in 2023.

Bell had been in somewhat of a prolonged slump throughout the year prior to coming to Miami. The powerful switch-hitter posted career lows in OPS+ in 2022 with the San Diego Padres (74) and in the first half of 2023 with the Guardians (97). He homered only 14 times in what amounted to a full season's worth of games.

Despite the struggles, Bell—who had mostly been hitting in the middle of the Guardians’ lineup as the designated hitter—was penciled in as the No. 3 hitter on his first day in Miami. His fingerprints were all over the Marlins victory that first night he was in the lineup. Thanks to a 383-foot home run in the sixth inning and a game-tying RBI single in the 11th, the Marlins defeated the Philadelphia Phillies, 8-7, in the midst of both teams’ respective wild card races.

In his first ten games with the Marlins, Bell slashed .308/.372/.667 (12-for-39) with four home runs. That hot stretch included Aug. 9 in Cincinnati, when he became the first player in franchise history to go deep from both sides of the plate in the same game.

After going through a short slump in early September, he turned back on when it mattered most. During the last three series of the regular season, Bell went 9-for-27 with six RBI, five walks, and two home runs en route to a playoff berth.

Bell's durability should not be taken for granted. He once again avoided significant injuries this season. He has played six full-length seasons in the majors, playing at least 143 games every time.

The biggest elephant in the room throughout Bell’s time in Miami was his player option for 2024. Should he exercise the option, he’d get $16.5 million. With the success he found in Miami towards the end of 2023, the Scott Boras client can at least consider testing the free agent market to see if he can command more money.

The impact of Kim Ng’s departure from the organization on Bell’s decision is unclear. Like several other Marlins players this year, Bell spoke glowingly about the job that Ng had done in building the 2023 roster. He was actually courted by her during his previous free agent availability.

“The first conversation I had with her when I got traded was, ‘Hey, we wanted you in the offseason. What happened?’” Bell recounted prior to the National League Wild Card Series. “It’s nice to know you’re wanted. And sometimes, throwing someone a bone goes a long way in this game.”

Bell has up to five days after the conclusion of the World Series to decide if he’ll exercise his player option.

Photo by Jesus Sanchez/Fish On First