Heath Bell has gone as far as saying it would be his "dream" to stay in San Diego on a long-term deal. We've also heard that the two sides will discuss a multiyear deal this Spring, and if that's not enough for Padres fans, the 33-year-old closer said in an MLB Network Radio interview today that he'd accept less money to remain a Padre.
"I definitely would take less just to sign [in San Diego] just because it's the Padres and I want to stay here," said Bell. "I'm very open to take a discount but it has to be knowing that I'll be able to stay here and not what happened to Jake Peavy. Even though Jake had a no-trade clause, [the Padres were] just pushing to get him out. I really don’t want that to happen" (all Twitter links).
Two years ago, Peavy's name headlined trade rumors for what seemed to be an eternity, as his contract had become too burdensome for the Padres to handle. He was nearly traded to the White Sox once and vetoed the deal. At the trade deadline though, Peavy changed his tune and was sent to the south siders (after several more months of trade rumors).
Bell's 89 saves over the last two seasons lead all of baseball, and he owns a 10.6 K/9 and 2.32 ERA through 139 2/3 innings to go along with them. If a deal can't be worked out, Bell will likely be the most desireable name on an impressive list of free agent relievers.
Sounds familiar. We get it, Heath Bell wants to remain a Padre. That’s just not going to happen long term. He will be traded at the deadline.
If a deal can’t be worked out, Bell will likely be the most desireable name on an impressive list of free agent relievers.
I think Paplebon and Broxton top the list ahead of Bell. I may even put Nathan in front of him…but he will be 37 and this year’s a question mark.
Except Papelbon and Broxton have been terrible lately
I think Pap just had a down year. And Broxton is young, he has time to correct himself. I think out of that entire free agent group, Brox has the most “talent” or skill or whatever you want to call it. If he can put it together, he’s one of the top 5 closers in the league.
I mean, you gotta keep in mind, if you sign someone, you’re signing them more for what they can do for you in the future, and less for what they’ve done in the past.
(I haven’t followed spring training, so apologies if you’re referencing something I’m just unaware or uninformed about.)
Really? Have you seen either of them pitch lately?
Ha. Bell has been the best closer the last two years i would rather have him then over rated pap, strugling Broxton and Nathan just coming off Tommy John surgery and 37 years old.
I marvel at how really good Bell is and how the Mets inexplicably couldn’t see it. The Mets willfully and deliberately went out of their way to ignore and avoid him at all costs. Because he was fat and has a big, loud, mouth and an even bigger personality. They were so worried about if he “acted” right, that they forgot the really important thing-you know, can he pitch?
So they went out and paid Rodriguiz a gazillion dollars, for something that was already sitting, unused, in their organization. Ha. They deserve each other.
I would take Wilson over bell
Whos talking about Wilson??? I belive i only mentioned pap bell nathan and broxton
How in the world could you put Broxton and his bloated ERA ahead of Bell. You’re nuts….
I wonder how big a discount Bell is willing to give the Padres? If he wants more than 5 mil a year, and he is worth more than that, he will probably be pitching in another uniform by July. As a Padre fan, I really hope the 2 sides can reach an agreement because Bell seems like quite the leader and he may be able to help the front office in the future get others to sign with the San Diego discount. If they can’t come to terms, he should bring back a very good propect or 2 come the summer.
I’m sure he’d want more than that. 5 mil is set-up man money. Shut down closers like Bell probably can pull in 9-14mil. I’m not saying he’ll get it, but he deserves it.
I guess it all comes down to how big a discount he is willing to give the Padres. If he wants more than 5 mil, and he is worth more, he will more than likely be pitching in another uniform by July. As a Padre fan, I hope the 2 sides can work something out because he seems to really be a leader on this club and he may be able to talk some other players into taking a San Diego discount in the future.
I guess the pep talk didnt work on Adrian huh ? it is a shame not many baseball players willing to give the old home town discount these days
I can’t blame them for that.
The flip side of that is all of the players that get shuffled around, dropped off of rosters over dollar amounts that are quite small in the big scheme of baseball payrolls.
If you want to give a team a “home town discount” go right ahead. But no player is obligated to do that. They all have reasons for what they do contract wise.
also most of the players just started career in those cities not actually born in them , home town discounts are what teams with smaller markets ask there young stars to do in many cases
Gonzalez is going to get 20+ mil a year and the Padres could probably afford 10 mil, it’s hard to talk someone out of 10+ mil a year no matter who the salesman is.
yeah not even every victoria secret model could talk me out of that kinda cash ……wait maybe they could ……….
Why do so many players love SD so much? They are a pretty sorry franchise in terms of on-field success.
Location, if anything. Plus, I’d imagine pitchers love the dimensions.
You do realize that since the Padres moved into Petco Park in 2004, only two teams in the national league have had more winning seasons right? The Padres have had 5 winning season in the past 7 years. Only the Phillies ( 7 ) and the Cardinals ( 6 ) have had more. So if the Padres are a sorry franchise in terms of on-field success, what in the world does that make teams like the Pirates, Nationals, Diamondbacks, and others who haven’t had a winning season or maybe only one winning season over that same span of time…Yes, they have not yet done anything major or important like win a playoff series or anything. But they have been a winning team and have conteded almost every year. And as a smaller market team, that’s really all you can ask of them.
The players talk about how much they like the coaches, ownership, weather and Petco (pitchers)…but mostly say how much they like clubhouse atmosphere, hustle and team camaraderie. There are no prima donnas on the team – mostly because they can’t afford them.
Yeah I’m with you there as Bell being top tier closer the last two years. But what I’m saying, and what article is about, is about free agency, aka the future. I’m simply saying Broxton projects better as a closer going forward.
You’re telling me if you were a GM, you would sign Bell for 3 years rather than Broxton for 3? I don’t buy it.
thats about as home town as it gets ,
He probably is serious then in saying he’d consider a home town discount. He has 4 kids so having the support system of family and friends around would be more valuable to Bell than money at this point in his life and career.
He would have been the ace