This is a trade short article, as the Diamondbacks obtained Josh Bell from the Marlins today in exchange for money factors to consider. It’s likewise an injury short article, regretfully. Christian Walker left last night’s D-backs/Nationals video game with an oblique injury, and was due for an MRI today. The outcomes haven’t been revealed yet, however trading for Bell is a declaration in and of itself, so let’s stroll through the trade and injury in mix.

Walker has actually silently been the second-best very first baseman in the video game over the previous 3 years. I don’t indicate that hyperbolically; he’s 2nd just to Freddie Freeman in WAR over that time duration. He’s done it with great offense and outrageous, comically great very first base defense. I don’t believe I’m offering this sufficient. Per Statcast, Walker has actually been 38 outs above average over that time duration. Carlos Santana is 2nd… with 17. DRS ratings it 33-20 in Walker’s favor, with Matt Olson at 21. However you take a look at it, Walker is head and shoulders above everybody else at the position. Last night, he made a standard-for-him, spectacular-for-most play on a nasty ball:

After that inning, he returned to the dugout and left the video game. Now we and the Diamondbacks can just wait to hear the injury news.

Prior to this trade, the D-backs genuinely has no strategy behind Walker. Kevin Newman – yes, the light-hitting previous Pittsburgh shortstop – is their small backup very first baseman. Pavin Smith is down in Triple-A, however Arizona sees him as no greater than a bench bat. Enter Bell, who is on his 3rd straight year of being a due date acquisition, with reducing excitement each time.

In 2022, Bell was definitely on fire in Washington when the Padres came calling. He belonged to the Juan Soto offer, and a crucial addition to San Diego’s lineup. With a 144 wRC+ and outstanding batted ball metrics, he appeared like he was lastly creating the capacity he’s flashed throughout his big league profession.

Bell ended that season in a downturn, then signed a two-year offer to man very first base in Cleveland. He had a hard time out of eviction before getting turned to Miami for a light return. The Marlins made the playoffs with Bell gathering some success down the stretch, however the shine wore away after he decreased to work out a pull out in the offseason. He’s on track for his worst complete season ever, and with the playoffs directly out of the image in Miami, the Marlins were merely trying to find somebody to supply them wage relief.

That may seem like a grim portent for the Diamondbacks, and perhaps it is. But Bell’s worst offending season exercises to a 96 wRC+, while Newman’s profession line checks in at 78. He’s still a significant upgrade, and it’s affordable to anticipate some bounce-back. After all, his recognized profession level is that of a league average very first baseman, and a few of this year’s underperformance boils down to BABIP luck, or absence thereof.

As you may anticipate of somebody who was traded for money factors to consider, Bell wasn’t in high need throughout the league. Justin Turner is a comparable classification of player — defensively minimal however most likely to return somewhat above-average worth at the plate. He got traded for a pure lotto ticket, and he’s making less than Bell this year while playing much better. Playoff competitors normally don’t have much usage for these fringe-y bats.

The Mariners were a diplomatic immunity since of their general absence of offense. The Diamondbacks are a diplomatic immunity since their lineup was established without any genuine backup strategy if Walker got harmed. He’s been incredibly long lasting — Walked played in 157 video games in 2023 and 160 in 2022, and prior to the injury, he’d appeared in every D-backs video game this season — and their DH circumstance took place to include hulking outfield types rather of hulking corner infielders. Walker may be back soon, however if he were to miss out on a great deal of time, the Diamondbacks would have a big hole in their lineup. With Bell in the fold, that run the risk of is meaningfully reduced. He’s undoubtedly not as great as Walker, however he’s miles ahead of their particular replacement level.

There’s more to like about this offer for the Snakes, even. Even if Walker returns in a week or 2, Bell may be a beneficial lineup piece. Walker is the only Diamondback presently hurt, however Alek Thomas missed out on a piece of the season, Geraldo Perdomo missed out on 2 months early in the year, and they have their reasonable share of older factors who might utilize more rest than they’re presently getting. Bell isn’t a best fit in that he can just play very first and DH, however even if he’s simply a squad partner for Joc Pederson, that maximizes Randal Grichuk to pitch in in the outfield. Every bit assists when you’re best on the edge of the playoffs.

All of that presumes that Bell will be an important player, and there are indications that may be the case. He’s long been among the streakiest gamers in baseball, and he’s hot at the minute, with 5 homers and a .342/.444/.763 slash line in his last 10 video games. He has plus power and when he’s using it, he can be a terrifying bat. Maybe in 2015 will be a design template; after the desultory stint in Cleveland that got him discarded for extra parts, he slashed .270/.338/.480 down the stretch as one of Miami’s finest players.

I don’t believe that Bell will be a lineup routine after Walker returns, however I still believe he’ll be a good addition to the group. He can play very first base for a couple of weeks (ideally not more) while Walker recuperates. When lineups broaden in September, a pinch-hitter and squad DH will be a sensible usage of a lineup area. Adding that gamer to a group that can’t pay for lots of injuries, and at such a low expense, is a sensible usage of resources.

That doesn’t make it any less of a disappointment that Walker got harmed, naturally. He’s been producing top-tier worth in the beginning base for several years. He was on rate for his finest season in the nick of time to strike complimentary firm at the ripe aging of 33. We discussed his terrific walk year simply 2 weeks back. The timing stinks.

Hopefully, the Bell acquisition is simply a sensible hedge by the D-backs front workplace. Hopefully Walker returns unharmed and gets right where he ended. But he took place to get harmed before the trade due date, and there took place to be an appropriate replacement readily available for absolutely nothing more than cash the extremely next day. Adding Bell was a no-brainer for the group, and I believe that everybody will ignore this one delighted even if Walker’s back in a blink.