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The Toll for Bell: Crowe and Yean

With a gaping chasm at first base in 2020 and the impending retirement of 2019 incumbent Ryan Zimmerman, the Washigton Nationals traded away a pitcher (Wil Crowe) and a prospect (Eddie Yean) to acquire 2019 N.L. All-Star Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Both RHPs had been named to the 2021 NationalsProspects.com Watchlist and were ranked in the Top 10 per Baseball America in 2021, with Crowe at #10 and Yean at #8.

The 26-y.o. Crowe was drafted in 2nd Rd. of the 2017 Draft out of the Univ. of South Carolina after pitching three seasons in four years, suffering the requisite Nats elbow to miss the 2016 season. He rose to AA in his second season, going 0-5 with a 6.15 ERA in five starts after an 11-0, 2.69 mark in 15 starts for High-A Potomac.

Crowe split 2019 between AA and AAA with a 7-6 mark in the former (16GS) and an 0-4 mark in the latter (10GS). Crowe made his MLB debut on August 22 this past summer but lost two of three games started while giving up 13 runs on 14 hits and eight walks with five HR’s and eight strikeouts.

Yean also joined the Nats in 2017, signing for $100K as an IFA (hey, that rhymes!) and worked his way from the D.R. to upstate N.Y. over two short seasons. He had reportedly gained 50 pounds from 2017 to 2020 and, according to BA, touching 97 on the radar gun.

Meanwhile, it would appear that the Nats are counting on Bell, who slumped to a .669 OPS with 8 HRs in 57G last summer, to return to his 2019 form (37 HRs in 143G while posting an OPS of .936. The 28-y.o. Bell played in 148G in 2018 and 159G in 2017, which would provide a stability not seen at 1B for the Nats since Adam LaRoche averaged 149G played from 2012 to 2014.

11 Commments

  1. Interesting deal. I’m optimistic Bell can return to form — rumor had it he was very unhappy in Pittsburgh — and mash in the heart of the order, hopefully paired with not just Soto but another middle-of-the-order bat. What I’m more nervous about is his defense, which is real bad. Clearly the Nats haven’t exactly prioritized sterling defense at first base over the years, as evidenced by Messrs. Thames, Kendrick, Adams, Zimmerman, Reynolds, and Lind, so it’s nothing we haven’t seen…but it will be a storyline to watch.

    I think Yean could be a good one. Saw absolutely nothing from Crowe to make me think he’s going to stick at this level, let alone be a real difference-maker.

    1. Can you imagine how depressing it was the last 2 years for Bell. Team has no interest in winning, pitchers don’t have to pitch to him etc,etc.

  3. Wil Crowe, like Pedro Severino, needs to be with a team like Pittsburgh so he can be bad for a long time without pressure and maybe learn his craft. That was never going to happen in D.C.

    As for Bell’s defense, to quote the great Dick Allen “you know how you play 1st base? You hit!”.

    The best news is Rizzo didn’t trade any lefthanders.

  4. All the years Ex- po fans yearned
    For a Chili Davis – esque bat and now Rizzo pulls off this robber baron trade .
    Pitt fans moping in their Steel City ales but that’s why that town is a hockey / football town .
    2021 is now one to see how certain kids progress :
    Andry , Fernandez and our guy Sanfler

  5. Could Rizzo double up the switch hit in lineup with Mickey Brantley or just go with Stevenson / Tomas options ?

  6. Rizzo preserved his top prospects, so the trade was a good one for the Nats. Crowe hasn’t shown much and Yean hasn’t had a chance to show much against good opposition. Maybe the Bucs can fix Crowe and develop Yean. If so, good for them. The Nats needed a bat at 1B in 2021 and they got one.

    1. The Nats needed a bat at 1B in 2021 and they got one.
      Ultimately, this is it. I just hope Zimmerman doesn’t pull a Dwight Evans and play one more—injury-shortened, natch—year for Baltimore.

      1. Sounds like Zimmerman is coming back to spell Bell against some lefties (Bell is a switch hitter and hits much better from the left-side).

        As things stand today, and they will change this is the guess of the Nats starting 8:

        C – Gomes
        1B – Bell
        2B – Castro
        SS – Turner
        3B – Kieboom
        LF – Soto
        CF – Robles
        RF- Stevenson/Tomas

        Still a lot of holes. Castro could also play 3rd and Garcia could play 2nd. Guessing the Nats will look to trade for a sign another experienced tested MLB bat that can play either 3B or corner OF.

        1. 2 huge question marks in Kieboom and Robles. Garcia will still need some time in Rochester before he’ ready.
          I’m pretty excited to see what Stevenson brings in the spring. His defense is ready for any outfield position and he had a monster September.

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