Bell exercises option to stay with Marlins
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Marlins first baseman/designated hitter Josh Bell exercised his $16.5 million player option and will remain with the club in 2024, the club announced Saturday.
A free-agent target of Miami last offseason, Bell instead signed a deal with Cleveland, where he posted a 96 OPS+ in 97 games. The Marlins acquired the 31-year-old switch-hitter ahead of the Trade Deadline, and he, along with fellow addition Jake Burger, turned into a key middle-of-the-order bat down the stretch run.
In 53 games, Bell matched his home run total (11) with the Guardians and collected 26 RBIs, recording a 119 OPS+ and playing an important role in the Marlins' first postseason berth in a full season in 20 years.
¡°I'm just going to unplug for the next few weeks and enjoy family and talk with my agent, talk with my family about what happens next,¡± Bell said following the club's sweep at the hands of the Phillies in the National League Wild Card Series. ¡°Had a really good time here, but I¡¯ve got to make decisions for my little ones and whatnot. We'll see what happens, and I'm definitely excited for when that time comes.¡±
It's a welcome return after All-Star designated hitter Jorge Soler declined his option earlier in the week. Had the Marlins missed out on both Soler and Bell, the club would have had to find a way to replace 47 homers and 101 RBIs. Despite that duo's production, Miami still scored the fifth-fewest runs and was tied for the eighth-fewest home runs in MLB in 2023.