The Pirates are trading first baseman Josh Bell to the Nationals for two young pitchers, multiple sources told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Christmas Eve.
MLB Network’s Jon Heyman reported that the Pirates will get right-handed pitchers Wil Crowe and Eddy Yean in return.
The trade doesn't necessarily come as a shock, but it does signal a definitive direction for the Pirates: They are absolutely rebuilding, no matter what they do or say.
Bell was their biggest piece, and they moved him for future talent that's years away from the majors.
The Pirates drafted Bell in the second round back in 2011 after they went above slot value to sign him out of high school.
Bell made his MLB debut in 2016 and hit .273 in 45 games. His bigger breakout came in 2017, when Bell batted .255/.334/.466 with 26 home runs and 90 RBIs over 159 games. That year, Bell finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting.
After a down 2018, during which one anonymous scout was highly critical of Bell, he broke out in a big way during the 2019 season, making the All-Star Game, competing in the Home Run Derby and piling up 37 home runs to go along with 116 RBIs.
Bell largely regressed in 2020, hitting just .226 with eight home runs and 22 RBIs in 57 games.
It was a potentially difficult situation for the Pirates to navigate in 2021, assuming the designated hitter does not remain in the National League. So far, that is what general manager Ben Cherington has indicated will happen.
With both Bell and Colin Moran vying for time at first base, a trade was certainly likely, especially when you consider Bell’s contract situation. He’ll go through arbitration for a second time this year, and there’s little indication he would have remained with the Pirates long-term after a third and final time.
The Nationals drafted Crowe in the second round back in 2017, signing him for a little under $1 million. He’s 26 years old and listed at 6-foot-2, 228 pounds.
Crowe made his MLB debut this past season, when he went 0-3 in three starts with a 11.88 ERA. In 2019, Crowe made 26 starts between Class AAA Fresno and Class AA Harrisburg, compiling a 7-10 record and 4.70 ERA.
Crowe, who was ranked No. 3 by MLB Pipeline, struck out 130 batters in 149 1/3 innings against just 48 walks.
A University of South Carolina product, Crowe was named the Class A Carolina League pitcher of the year in 2018, when he went 11-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 87 innings.
Baseball America projects Crowe as a future No. 5 starter or relief option. He has four pitches and typically sits around 91-93 mph with his fastball, touching 95.
Yean is a 20-year-old native of the Dominican Republic the Nationals signed for $100,000 in 2017. He’s added considerable weight and is now listed at 6-foot-1, 230 pounds.
He has a much harder fastball, the pitch touching 97 mph, and scouts believe he has an above-average slider that generates a decent amount of swing-and-miss.
Given the fact that he has not yet played any full-season ball, Yean is clearly further behind Crowe — though with seemingly more potential.
