Guardians view Josh Bell as lineup protection option for Jose Ramirez

On Mar 8, 2023

As is often the case, as Jose Ramirez goes, so go the Guardians. And so it makes sense that while a wide number of factors and variables go into the club’s daily lineup construction, one of the most important focuses revolves around who is hitting immediately before and after their MVP candidate.

Guardians first baseman Josh Bell poses for a photo Thursday, Feb. 23, 2023.

And in a way, when the Guardians addressed their biggest offseason need — a first baseman and a needed middle-of-the-order type hitter — by signing Josh Bell, they also were solving one of their lineup dilemmas.

Bell has been an above average hitter in every year of his career except for the COVID-shortened 2020 season. He posted a 123 wRC+ last season (meaning he was 23% better than league average) and a 119 wRC+ in 2021. Now 30 years old and with Cleveland, different projections systems with FanGraphs are calling for a 2023 wRC+ somewhere between 114 and 125. Bell has said he’s excited to see what he can do now that defensive infield shifts have been banned by Major League Baseball.

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Bell walks off the field with teammates after batting practice during the first day of spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

What to watch in Arizona:Guardians spring training 2023: The top 5 storylines to watch this spring camp

New MLB rules:Pitch clock will make games faster in 2023, but it’s a big adjustment for all involved

Buy beyond all of that, Bell being a switch hitter — like Ramirez — offers the Guardians someone who can avoid some of the bigger platoon disadvantages when teams try to gameplan for the middle of the lineup.

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Josh Bell, right, laughs with assistant hitting coach Victor Rodríguez, as they talk after the first day of spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

Steven Kwan and Amed Rosario could remain in the 1-2 spots, followed by Ramirez. Bell is then a nice option in the cleanup spot, likely followed by a combination of Josh Naylor, Andres Gimenez and Oscar Gonzalez, and finally Mike Zunino and Myles Straw to round out the order.

While each spot carries its own importance in terms of lineup construction, making it as difficult as possible for teams to avoid Ramirez is near the top of the list. And that’s where Bell comes in.

Cleveland Guardians third baseman Tyler Freeman, left, talks with first baseman Josh Bell after batting practice during the first day of spring training in Goodyear, Ariz., Friday, Feb. 17, 2023.

“I know if you’ve been around me, last year we tried to put whoever we thought would give Josey the best protection [in that No. 4 spot],” Guardians manager Terry Francona told reporters in Goodyear, Ariz. “We went through a lot of [different options] — guys who were hot, left-handed, right-handed, because one, you want ’em to pitch the Josey, and if they don’t, you’d like for ’em to pay a price. So that was the object. I think Josh Bell, again, nobody has a crystal ball, but it’s kind of an obvious [fit], he’s switch hitter. I think it’s going to help us, especially against left-handers.”

Cleveland Guardians 3B Jose Ramirez enters 2023 healthy after thumb surgery in offseason

Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez has averaged 32 homers, 104 RBI and 26 stolen bases over the past four full seasons.

As for Ramirez, he’ll have a chance to again play while healthy after grinding through half of last season with a thumb injury that required offseason surgery. Prior to the injury, Ramirez was hitting .305 with a 1.039 OPS and 62 RBIs, which at the time had him on pace to break Manny Ramirez’s franchise single-season RBIs record. In the 97 games after the injury, Ramirez hit .265 with a .766 OPS. He was productive, but nowhere near the MVP candidate-level threat he was in the Guardians lineup before that time.