Although the MLB trade deadline has passed, there will still be ample opportunities before the end of August for contending teams to pick up quality players via the waiver wire. The flip side is for organizations turning towards the 2026 season and may want to dump some salary on players who might not return to their team next season.
A prime example is the Washington Nationals, who traded away most of their players with expiring contracts. Since winning the World Series in 2019, this season marks the fifth consecutive season for the Nationals where they are out of contention before September. August 31st is the deadline for players to be on a roster if they want to be eligible for the playoffs.
Nationals Should Move on From Josh Bell
There are a handful of MLB players who are having good enough seasons that other contending playoff teams would be willing to take on the rest of their contract for the playoffs. Josh Bell is a name to keep an eye on as he has frequently moved organizations in his career. Bell is hitting .235 this season with 15 home runs and an OPS+ of 109. Josh Bell is in his 10th MLB season and has spent time with six teams, including his third stint with the Nationals.
Bell played with the Miami Marlins and Arizona Diamondbacks last season, fitting the mold of him constantly moving organizations. He is putting together his best offensive season since 2022 with the Nationals.
He signed a one-year deal this offseason worth $6 million, but if Washington decides to release Bell before August ends, they would save roughly $1 million of the remaining money on his contract. The DH/ first baseman could provide depth for another contending team, and the Boston Red Sox come to mind, as they are still searching for a consistent first baseman. Josh Bell would likely test free agency this Winter, which means he is not guaranteed to return to the Nationals.
Josh Bell Named Top Waiver Candidate
Bleacher Report recently ran an article naming the top 15 waiver wire candidates, and Josh Bell was at the top of the list:
“However, they failed to unload Josh Bell, putting an end to his streak of three consecutive years getting dealt on deadline day. There’s still a chance he switches teams for a fourth straight summer, though, if they put him on waivers to potentially save around $1 million. As we noted repeatedly leading up to the trade deadline, Bell’s 2025 stats are respectable if you ignore his glacially slow start to the year.
“Over the past three months, he’s batting .280 with an .827 OPS, operating at 162-game paces of 152 hits and 22 home runs. He has almost exclusively served as a designated hitter this season, but he has appeared at first base on occasion, including twice in the past week. He also made nearly 100 starts there last season. He could be a solution at either 1B or DH.”
It’s unclear what Bell’s market would officially be, but many teams would be willing to pay $1 million for the rest of the season for a bat that has been above average for most of his career.
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