Nationals acquire Josh Bell from Pirates for pitching prospects

The Washington Nationals, looking to upgrade a lineup that was third in the NL East in runs scored this year, on Thursday acquired first baseman Josh Bell from the Pittsburgh Pirates for two pitching prospects.

Bell was an All-Star in 2019 following a torrid first half in which he hit .302 with 27 home runs and 84 RBIs. That form has been elusive over the past year-plus. Bell hit .233 with 10 home runs during an injury-shortened second half of 2019 and batted a career-low .226 in 57 games for the Pirates in 2020. Pittsburgh finished 19-41, the worst record in the majors.

Bell, 28, is under contractual control through at least the 2022 season. He is one of three arbitration-eligible players for the Nationals, joining outfielder Juan Soto and shortstop Trea Turner.

For Bell, the Pirates received right-handers Will Crowe and Eddy Yean.

Crowe, 26, was 0-2 with an 11.88 ERA in three starts for the Nationals in 2020. Yean, 19, was 3-5 with a 3.50 ERA across two lower levels of the minor leagues in 2019.

“To build a winning team and sustain that in Pittsburgh, we’re going to need to continue to focus on the accumulation of talent and then the development of that talent, and that comes from all different avenues,” Pittsburgh general manager Ben Cherington said. “But trade is one of them, and this is the time of the year where those conversations happen, so we’ll continue them.”

Hockey: The NHL believes all seven Canadian teams will be able to start the 2021 season playing in their home arenas.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the league believes it is clear to play in Canada during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic after discussions with the five provincial governments that have NHL teams to try to gain approval to start Jan. 13.

The NHL realigned...