Facing Walker's absence, D-backs deal for Josh Bell; also add reliever Floro

PHOENIX -- With Christian Walker possibly set to miss time with a left oblique injury, the D-backs made sure they had a backup, acquiring first baseman Josh Bell from the Marlins on Tuesday for a player to be named or cash considerations.

TRADE DETAILS
D-backs get: 1B Josh Bell
Marlins get: Cash considerations

The D-backs will pay $2.25 million of the just less than $6 million Bell is owed for the rest of the season, a source said.

Walker was forced to leave Monday night’s game with left oblique tightness and was scheduled to undergo an MRI on Tuesday morning. Arizona does not have a true first baseman on its 26-man roster, with backup middle infielder Kevin Newman and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. as options and Pavin Smith at Triple-A Reno.

By adding Bell, the D-backs cover themselves during Walker's possible absence. Whether that is for a short or long period of time is not yet known.

The 31-year-old switch-hitting Bell is having a down season across the board, but he has heated up since the second half began, with five homers in his first nine games. Bell also provides an exemplary clubhouse presence and postseason experience. He has split time at first base and designated hitter, where he is better suited, in 2024.

Walker is as close to an irreplaceable player as the D-backs have for what he brings on both sides of the ball. Last year, he won his second straight Rawlings Gold Glove Award, and this season he leads the D-backs with 71 RBIs and shares the team lead with 23 home runs.

Walker has been an iron man for the D-backs this year, appearing in all of their 107 games, a total that leads the Majors. He has been out of the starting lineup only twice this year, and he wound up getting into both of those contests.

“[Walker is] a very tough player, and I blame myself in a lot of different ways for this,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said after Monday’s game. “Because I asked him to go out there every day. So that's on me. I got to be a little bit better at managing him, and I will, once he gets out of this little situation.”

Bell is no stranger to the Deadline. San Diego acquired him and Juan Soto from Washington as part of that franchise-altering blockbuster trade in 2022. Last August, Miami dealt for Bell to bolster its lineup. While it didn't work out with the Padres (.587 OPS), the Marlins rode Bell (.818 OPS) and fellow pickup Jake Burger (.860 OPS) to their first postseason berth in a full season in 20 years.

Bell, who exercised his $16.5 million player option for 2024, can become a free agent after the season.

The D-backs also added to their bullpen just before the 3 p.m. MST Deadline by acquiring right-hander Dylan Floro from the Nationals in exchange for Minor League third baseman Andres Chaparro.

Floro is the second reliever the D-backs have acquired in the last five days joining lefty-hander A.J. Puk, who came over from the Marlins. Floro has appeared in 51 games for the Nats this year and has a 2.06 ERA.