Ranking the 10 greatest outfielders in Blue Jays history
5. George Bell
George Bell is a rare example of a Rule 5 pick that winds up blossoming into a very good player. The Jays stole Bell from the Phillies in 1980 and he became one of the best hitters the club ever had.
From 1984 to 1987, Bell posted a 129 WRC+ which was seventh among American League outfielders. In that span, he finished in the top 10 in the MVP balloting in three of those four years and won three Silver Slugger Awards as well.
1987 was Bell’s best year with the Jays and one of the best offensive seasons the organization has ever seen. He slashed .308/.352/.605 with 47 home runs and a league-leading 134 RBI. He made his first All-Star team, won the Silver Slugger Award, and won the AL MVP. He was the first Blue Jays player to ever win an MVP award. His 369 total bases led the AL and set a Jays’ franchise record at the time. His 47 home runs also was a Jays franchise record for a single season but was broken by another player on this list.
Bell was not very good defensively during his stint with the Jays, posting negative dWAR numbers in just about every season he played North of the border.
Bell is in the top 10 in virtually every important offensive category in Blue Jays franchise history and is one of the best hitters the Jays have ever had.