Isaac Azout and Kevin Barral are joined by new Miami Marlins slugger Josh Bell! Bell dishes on the start of his professional baseball career, the emotions of being traded three separate times, the experiences of playing with Juan Soto and playing against Sandy Alcantara, and why he signed with Cleveland instead of Miami in free agency.
Please excuse the beeping in the background of the recording and enjoy episode #47!
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The Marlins acquired Bell from the Cleveland Guardians on trade deadline day in exchange for Jean Segura and Kahlil Watson. Since being added to the active roster on August 2, he has started all 14 of the team’s games slashing .309/.377/.636 (172 wrc+) with five home runs.
Although an unconventional trade, the Marlins’ interest in the first baseman didn’t come out of nowhere. Bell confirms that they were among the teams who pursued him in free agency last year. But with one young child to care for and a second one on the way (eventually born in June), his wife, Arlia, encouraged him to sign with the Guardians so that they could live near extended family.
At the time of his arrival in Miami, it was assumed that Bell would be exercising his $16.5 million player option for the 2024 season. While that is still the most likely outcome, his recent excellence has opened up the possibility of him electing free agency again this winter in pursuit of a lucrative multi-year deal. On the pod, Bell was reluctant to criticize any of the MLB ballparks for that reason.
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