Former Padres acquisition from Juan Soto trade lands with Nationals in free agency

While the San Diego Padres' offseason has been rather uninspiring, other National League clubs are making moves. One team who's been rather active the past couple of weeks has been the Washington Nationals. Just before Christmas, the Nats swung a trade with the Texas Rangers to acquire first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, and more recently inked starter Trevor Williams to a two-year deal.

But the Nationals also agreed to a reunion before the new year after signing former Padres' first baseman Josh Bell to a one-year, $6 million deal. The Friar faithful will remember that Bell was part of the Juan Soto trade back in 2022, though his production fell off the map after landing in San Diego.

Former Padres 1B Josh Bell signs one-year deal with the Nationals

Just before the 2022 MLB trade deadline, San Diego shipped a boatload of top prospects and first baseman Luke Voit to DC in exchange for Soto and Bell. Eric Hosmer was originally part of the deal, but the longtime Padres' outfielder invoked his no-trade clause. The Friars then had to amend their offer to the Nats, and with Voit off to our nation's capital, adding Bell became somewhat necessary — or so Padres' fans thought.

The longtime Pittsburgh Pirates slugger did not match his first-half production. After hitting .301/.384/.493 with the Nats in 2022, he posted an embarrassing .192/.316/.271 slash line in his 53 games with the Padres that season.

Bell was a free agent following the 2022 season and left San Diego after signing a two-year, $33 million contract with the Cleveland Guardians. But another mediocre showing saw him shipped to the Miami Marlins for a pair of infielders. Bell was dealt once again prior to the 2024 trade deadline; this time to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The slugger finally returned to form, posting a .796 OPS down the stretch with the Padres' NL West rivals last season.

Bell is now headed back to the Nats on a one-year deal, but after trading for Lowe, Washington expects the 31-year-old to be their primary DH in 2025. Bell's time was not one of the best stretches of his career, though he did win the Silver Slugger Award for his overall performance in 2022.

More San Diego Padres News and Rumors