Josh Bell, a first baseman renowned for his power-hitting abilities, has officially signed a one-year contract worth $6 million with the Washington Nationals. This agreement, finalized on Sunday, marks Bell’s return to the team after having previously played there during the 2021 season and most of 2022.

During his time with the Nationals, Bell showcased impressive statistics, recording a batting average of .278 and accumulating 41 home runs, 145 RBIs, and 48 doubles across 247 games. However, his journey took a turn when he was traded to the San Diego Padres along with star player Juan Soto on August 2, 2022. Since then, Bell has been involved in a series of trades, having moved three consecutive years before the trade deadline.

Now at the age of 32, Bell has spent the last two seasons with various teams, including the Cleveland Guardians, Miami Marlins, and Arizona Diamondbacks. In the 2023 season, he played a total of 145 games, where he recorded a batting average of .249, hit 19 home runs, and added 71 RBIs and 23 doubles, playing primarily for the Marlins and the Diamondbacks, who acquired him on July 30.

Bell’s career has been highlighted by his selection as an All-Star in 2019. Over his nine-season Major League Baseball career, he has maintained a .258 batting average, belted 171 home runs, and driven in 613 runs in a total of 1,159 games. His career spans various teams, including the Pittsburgh Pirates from 2016 to 2020, the Nationals from 2021 to 2022, the Padres in 2022, and the Guardians, Marlins, and Diamondbacks in 2023 and 2024.

With this new contract, Bell aims to make significant contributions to the Nationals’ lineup and is looking forward to revitalizing his performance after a challenging couple of seasons. The Nationals are hopeful that his return will provide an added boost to their offense as they navigate the upcoming season.