Fantasy Baseball: Josh Bell or Mat Gamel?

by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 25, 2025 2:25 PM EST

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all Minor League Ballers! Here is a quick post before I head out for a run....well, I need one for all the junk I ate last night.

Anyway, both Mat Gamel and Josh Bell are in my third base rankings, but I am not sure what the future holds for each of them. Gamel was once a top third base prospect for the Brewers and seemed to lose his status after a not-so-stellar debut and a few injuries. Back in 2008, he had a breakout campaign that raised his prospect status as he hit .329-.395-.537 with 19 HRs, 96 RBIs and 96 runs scored in AA.

He was promoted to the big league club in 2009, after showing solid power in AAA. He hit .242-.338-.422 with 5 HRs and 20 RBIs with the Brewers, but he struck out 54 times in 128 ABs, for a 42% K rate. In 2010, he hit .309-.387-.509 with 13 HRs and 67 RBis in 359 plate appearances in AAA. He had a cup of coffee with the big league club in 2010, but his K rate rose above 50% in his 17 plate appearances, after lowering his K rate to 21% in AAA.

Gamel is now blocked by Casey McGehee at third base and Prince Fielder at first base in Milwaukee, and I wonder when he will get another opportunity in Milwaukee.

Bell had a solid 2009 campaign in AA where he hit a combined .295-.376-.516 with 20 HRs, 76 RBIs and a solid 98-61 K/BB rate at AA Chattanooga and Bowie. In 2010, at AAA Norfolk, he hit .278-.328-.481 with 13 HRs and 50 RBIs in 316 ABs. He was promoted to Baltimore, where he hit just .214-.224-.302 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs in 159 at bats. His K rate, which sat in the low to mid 20% rate in the high minors, rose to 33% at the big league level. His walk rate and ISO also dropped dramatically in his 159 at bats in Baltimore.

He is now blocked at third base by the recent acquisition of Mark Reynolds and one has to wonder what Baltimore is thinking with this trade. Is Reynolds any better than Bell at this point? Both have trouble making contact at the plate, but Reynolds has more experience and a bigger contract than Bell.

Which of these two third baseman will eventually reach their potential at the big league level?

Poll

Which of these two third baseman will reach their potential at the big league level-Josh Bell or Mat Gamel?

Bell

247 votes

Gamel

241 votes

Neither

371 votes

Both

25 votes

884 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

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Read More: Mat Gamel (3B - MIL), Josh Bell (3B - BAL), Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers

Comments

In a dynasty league...

both players were recently available in a draft but only Bell was selected. Bell was picked before me but I had the opportunity to select Gamel. I passed on the fact that he simply doesn’t have a place to play in MIL and seems to of regressed due to his lack of MLB playing time. I’m not sure if the organization has soured on him or if he’s the backup plan to when/if they trade Fielder but the he needs full-time MLB at-bats and isn’t getting them. Unlike Bell, who can play a decent 3B, Gamel is a DH/1B with some good potential but needs playing time. I had hoped he would of been included in the Grieinke KC deal and then spun off to another AL team but that has yet to happen. All things being equal, I think Gamel might have the better bat but with Bell 3B glove and the fact that Bell gets ABs I’d take Bell currently.

by Havok1517 on Dec 25, 2025 3:23 PM EST reply actions

I like what Havok said

Gamel has a good bat, but his fielding will keep him from playing 3B in the majors. Until he gets traded, he is likely to continue to hit and make errors in the minors.

by King Billy Royal on Dec 25, 2025 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

Is Reynolds any better than Bell at this point?

Really?

by Trashman on Dec 25, 2025 6:12 PM EST reply actions

reynolds

He leads the majors in strikeouts and hits for good power, but not much else. Is he worth his contract? I think he may be on his last long terrm contract in MLB.

Ray Guilfoyle
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 25, 2025 8:50 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

You know...

people said the same thing about Dunn and he was able to rebound and at least keep his other numbers respectable and just signed for large money with the White Sox. So, it is possible that Reynolds can recover plus Reynolds has 3B eligibility which obviously adds to his value. Time will tell.

by Havok1517 on Dec 25, 2025 11:24 PM EST up reply actions

Reynolds makes Dunn look like Ichiro

by King Billy Royal on Dec 26, 2025 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah

Very poor comparison. Adam Dunn has always been an on base machine. Reynolds will draw some walks, but no where near the level of Dunn, and no where near enough to off set his K’s. This was dumbest move of the off season IMO. Bell wasn’t quite ready last year, but he’s not 4-5 mil worse than Reynolds. You HAVE to give a Bell more time to see if he can adjust. Stupid trade. Just stupid.

by slurve on Dec 26, 2025 7:21 AM EST up reply actions

I just don't get that deal for the O's

I think that Reynolds is going to get eaten alive in the AL Beast. Guys like Lester, Sabathia, Beckett, Buccholz, Morrow, Romero, Garza, Price, and Shields are going to have him breaking his already pathetic record for k’s.

Dewey and KBR are like Dr. Dre and Timbaland!!! All we do is produce hits!!!

by King Billy Royal on Dec 26, 2025 11:03 PM EST up reply actions

+1

That one made me laugh when I read that. YES, he’s a lot better than Josh Bell.

"If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game." - Rickey Henderson

by casejud on Dec 25, 2025 11:47 PM EST up reply actions

I would be surprised if Bell could not post a 2.5 WAR, if he is given a full playing time, which is about what Mark Reynolds will be

by jackyz on Dec 26, 2025 12:08 AM EST up reply actions

Reynolds

career triple slash line of .242-.334-.483 and he strikes out at a 39% clip in his career…….not so sure Bell couldn’t do better than that if given 500 ABs in a season.

Ray Guilfoyle
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by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 26, 2025 12:51 AM EST up reply actions

I don't think so

I don’t even know I just don’t like to see a good big ~~leaguer sold short. Reynolds slugged 50 points higher in the minors~~ so NO ecvidence that Bell shares that strength

Reynolds was a good major league player by the time he was 23 years old, and has been ever since, despite his battiing average fluctuating. He K’s more than anybody but, it doesn’t change the fact that he’s been an above average uitter and, now fielder at 3b four years now.

Maybe Josh Bell can do that but, I’d like to see him try. It looks to me like Bell could strike out as much, walk as much, with about HALF the power and, maybe not as good of glove either.

"If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game." - Rickey Henderson

by casejud on Dec 26, 2025 3:20 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed, I'm not too convinced Bell can hit like Reynolds has, and he might even be a worse fielder

Reynolds and Bell aren’t really close. That being said, I would have given Bell a chance at 1B, but I’d be surprised if he is as good of a player as Reynolds.

by Navi's_Navy on Dec 26, 2025 4:43 AM EST up reply actions

Reynolds on-base ability

seems to be underrated. He walked at an almost 14% rate (13.9%) and posted an OBP of .320 despite a sub-.200 batting average. He’s completely baffling. lol

by blackoutyears on Dec 28, 2025 12:35 PM EST up reply actions

did you watch Bell during the regular season?

he looked completely outmatched. basically he was rushed to the majors to begin with (only 81 games at AAA, with an .810 OPS) after Atkins was released and Tejada was traded halfway through the season. I think he needs at least half a season, maybe more, of AAA at-bats before the O’s can even think about giving him regular ML at-bats.

another concern is his defense. people talk about Reynolds’ defense but his problems have mostly come on errors, and he seems to have fixed that problem. he actually has pretty good range for a 3rd baseman. Bell, on the other hand, has no range (career -40 TotalZone in 407 minor league games at 3B) and also commits a lot of errors (career .902 fielding percentage at 3B). so really, this deal makes a lot of sense. if Bell plays well enough at AAA to deserve a chance in the majors, he should play 1B or DH, with Luke Scott possibly getting traded (or moving to LF depending on how the other guys are performing).

by ugen64 on Dec 27, 2025 6:25 PM EST up reply actions

if you figure Reynolds contract

into the comparison between he and Bell, I think the comparison makes it alot closer. Plus, Bell really has not been given a chance by the O’s, imo. This is not to say Bell will succeed…he may not. But I think the O’s made a mistake with the deal for Reynolds.
As for Gamel, it appears the Brewers are ALL-IN in 2011, and will keep Prince as long as they are in the wildcard hunt. With that said, I can see Gamel gettting a shot at 1B in 2012 when Fielder leaves.

Ray Guilfoyle
www.faketeams.com
www.sbnation.com
www.minorleagueball.com

by Ray Guilfoyle on Dec 26, 2025 8:51 AM EST reply actions

You could be right Ray

… about Bell. I think REynolds was better than he showed in 2010 and, could end up a steal for the O’s - we’ll see.

Regarding Gamel, it seems like they could find a use or two for him on the big league team - PHing, a little 3b, a little 1b - even if he wasn’t starting evryday. he isn;’t getting any younger.

I still believe in the bat and I always thought he’d round into a decent 3b, though I am VASTLY in the minority. To me he has enough quickness, hands, and arm strength but has just been real inconsistent throwing. McGee has a decent grip on 3b though now, unbelievably.

"If my uniform doesn't get dirty, I haven't done anything in the baseball game." - Rickey Henderson

by casejud on Dec 27, 2025 2:58 AM EST up reply actions

Bell

I think it’s close but I think Bell will prove to be the better fantasy player/real life player. He will more then likely stick at 3rd for the future and put up some solid but not spectacular numbers.

I do think Gamel will be a ok regular.

by srbaseball2003 on Dec 27, 2025 12:51 PM EST reply actions