Getty

Washington Nationals first baseman Josh Bell

Josh Bell avoided the dubious distinction of being traded for a fourth straight year. But that doesn’t mean his annual change-of-address tour is over just yet. 

With the Washington Nationals buried near the bottom of the standings , the waiver wire could soon become their roster-cleaning tool of choice. The first domino already fell Thursday when first baseman Nathaniel Lowe was designated for assignment – and more moves are expected to follow. 

According to Bleacher Report’s latest list of likely waiver candidates , Bell tops the board. The 33-year-old first baseman/DH has worn six different uniforms in his 10-year career, and he might be headed for a seventh. 

If the Nationals cut him loose, FanSided’s Zachary Rotman thinks the Boston Red Sox should pounce and add him for the stretch run . 

“There’s no guarantee that the Nationals will make him available or that Bell will even fall to Boston’s place in the waiver order, but if they have the chance to claim him, Craig Breslow shouldn’t hesitate,” Rotman wrote. “Adding a substantial upgrade could help give the red-hot Red Sox the jolt they need to pass the Blue Jays and win the division.” 

Washington Nationals Predicted to Put First Baseman Josh Bell on Waivers

It’s not hard to imagine Bell being a substantial upgrade for the Red Sox. 

Boston’s first base picture hasn’t exactly inspired confidence. Since Triston Casas went down in early May with a rupture of his left patellar tendon, the team has leaned primarily on Abraham Toro, with support from Romy Gonzalez . Toro had his moments early, but he’s cooled off to a .689 OPS on the year. Since the All-Star break, Toro has posted an OPS of .559, pulled down even further by an August slide of .509. 

Meanwhile, Bell, whose average sat below the Mendoza Line for the first half of the season, started to heat up in July. Over the past several weeks, Bell posted a slash line of .333/.445/.525 slash line, with a Weighted Runs Created Plus of 176, which ranks eighth in all of MLB since July and would be tops on the Red Sox roster. 

Suddenly, that “sneaky pickup” of Bell becomes less of a shot in the dark and more like an adrenaline shot to get Boston across the finish line.  

Adding Josh Bell Could Give Red Sox Much-Needed Slug

A switch-hitter, Bell brings spray-chart versatility and raw pop – something Toro simply hasn’t delivered. And while Gonzalez can prove useful in a platoon situation, especially against lefty arms, the Red Sox need a righty-compatible slug.  

Toro’s glove and bat combo just isn’t the solace it once was. Even heavy-duty fans are whispering that Toro’s time might be up.

Should Washington take the waiver loss – and the Nationals are looking to clear salary – Boston would be wise to stand at the ready. Waiver rules still allow them to gear up before the postseason rosters are sealed on August 31. And while Bell might walk after the season, the short-term gains could be monumentally worth it. 

So yeah, Bell may have dodged the trade deadline, but he hasn’t escaped change yet. And for the Red Sox, that change could be exactly what they need. 

Dave Benson is a veteran writer with over three decades of journalism experience covering sports primarily in the St. Louis metropolitan area. Dave is also a licensed English teacher and spent several years teaching at the middle school level. More about Dave Benson