The Cleveland Guardians enjoyed a surprisingly successful season in 2022.
After being projected to finish towards the bottom of the AL Central, the Guardians won 92 games, captured an AL Central title, and eliminated the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card Series.
Their efforts also earned Terry Francona Manager of the Year honors.
This offseason, Cleveland’s big addition was veteran slugger Josh Bell, who joined the team on a two-year deal.
On Sunday, MLB Network stopped by the Guardians spring training facility in Arizona and got a chance to catch up with Bell, who discussed what drew him to Cleveland after being one of the top free agent sluggers on the market.
Josh Bell is pumped to be in Cleveland!
The @CleGuardians new slugger discussed what went into his decision to sign with the club and how he can impact the lineup.#SpringTraining | #MLBTonight | @Plesac19 pic.twitter.com/gmjHvzMqw0
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 6, 2023
Bell first discussed the rule changes such as the pitch clock and larger bases and how they essentially play into the Guardians’ hands.
The Guardians have a powerful offense, but also have plenty of young stars who can run the bases.
This means more stolen base attempts may take place, which could cause some mistakes on behalf of pitchers.
Bell expressed his excitement to potentially have more opportunities to do damage at the plate.
He also talked about why he chose the Guardians over other teams, discussing the speed that they possess in their lineup, which he believes could give him more chances to drive in runs, especially with the shift being limited this year.
The veteran slugger was asked about the opportunity to play under the reigning AL Manager of the Year, and praised him for his “old school vibe” and the philosophy of playing the game the right way.
NEXT: The Guardians Will Try To Repeat A Fundamental Feat
