The smallest $b$ for each $a$ are listed at A375081 at the OEIS.

This was resolved in the affirmative by van Doorn [vD24], who proved $b=b(a)$ always exists, and in fact $b(a) \ll a$. Indeed, if $a\in (3^k,3^{k+1}]$ then one can take $b=2\cdot 3^{k+1}-1$. van Doorn also proves that $b(a)>a+(1/2-o(1))\log a$, and considers various generalisations of the original problem.

It seems likely that $b(a)\leq (1+o(1))a$, and perhaps even $b(a)\leq a+(\log a)^{O(1)}$.