Washington’s Nationals acquired Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Christmas Eve for a couple of pitchers, in Wil Crowe and prospect Eddy Yean, who Bucs’ GM Ben Cherington described as “a couple of studs” when he phoned Bell to inform the 28-year-old, 2011 2nd round pick that he’d been dealt.
“Wil Crowe was a high draft choice for us and a guy that we had high expectations for,” GM Mike Rizzo told reporters of the Nationals’ 2017 2nd round pick when he and Bell spoke with reporters on a Zoom call this past weekend.