Back at the start of Spring Training, before Josh Bell and the Nationals avoided arbitration, (agreeing on a 1-year/$10M deal for the veteran first baseman), Washington GM Mike Rizzo talked to reporters about the potential of a long-term extension which would keep the 29-year-old, seven-year veteran in D.C. beyond this season, since Bell is set to hit free agency after this year. At that point, however, Rizzo said they hadn’t talked long-term with Bell’s reps.
“We haven’t discussed it yet,” Rizzo explained. “He’s an arbitration candidate for us, so we wouldn’t do anything before we get a deal done in arbitration anyways.