Headlines

  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Astros To Promote Brice Matthews
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

What The Padres Can Do About Heath Bell

By Ben Nicholson-Smith | August 26, 2011 at 2:40pm CDT

Against all odds, Heath Bell is still a Padre. He was a trade candidate last summer, last offseason, this July and again this August. But the Giants and Padres weren’t able to work out a deal following San Francisco’s claim, so Bell remains in San Diego.

Here are the Padres’ options regarding their closer:

  • Put Him Back On Waivers – San Diego GM Jed Hoyer could put Bell on waivers in an attempt to save $1.4MM or so in salary. This option seems unproductive – all they would get is salary relief – and unlikely. If the Padres put Bell on waivers again this month, they'd be irrevocable.
  • Work Toward An Extension – Bell has consistently said that he’d accept less money to stay in San Diego. ‘Less’ would still be expensive in this instance, so Hoyer and CEO Jeff Moorad may decide the small-market Padres have more pressing needs given their strong bullpen.
  • No Arbitration Offer – The Padres could simply let Bell walk after the season and thank him for five years of excellent relief. This seems unlikely, but it’s too early to rule it out.
  • Offer Arbitration And Keep Him If He Accepts – This would mean the Padres are stuck paying a relief pitcher about 20% of their payroll and it would also mean no compensatory draft picks in 2012.
  • Offer Arbitration And Trade Him If He Accepts – If the Padres want draft picks for Bell, they’ll have to offer arbitration. Bell has said he’d accept and Moorad has said he wouldn’t mind if that happened, so an arbitration offer seems likely. Even if the Padres don’t like the idea of paying Bell $10MM or so in 2012, they could offer a contract and then trade him if he accepts, like the Rangers did with Frank Francisco last year.

There’s also the possibility that Bell will turn down arbitration, leaving the Padres with two top picks in next year’s draft. That’s essentially out of their control once the offer of arbitration is out there, though.

Nearly half of 6,500 MLBTR readers said in a recent poll that they would sign Bell to an extension. While that would appease some Padres fans and the right-hander himself, it would create as many problems as it solves for a team with such a modest payroll. It’s doubtful that the Padres would give Bell up for nothing though, so at this point it seems likely that they’ll offer arbitration after the season and go from there.

Share 0 Retweet 7 Send via email0

San Diego Padres Heath Bell

Blue Jays Claim Dewayne Wise
Main
Quick Hits: Harden, Thome, Weaver, Carroll
View Comments (19)
Post a Comment

19 Comments

  1. BlueSkyLA

    14 years ago

    So it really does matter how much a team can afford to spend on salaries.

    Reply
    • iheartyourfart

      14 years ago

      ^ even dodger fans can be taught

      Reply
  2. Mickey Koke

    14 years ago

    Posturing. I still believe, despite Bell’s comments, he would not accept arbitration. No doubt the Padres offer it in my opinion. 

    Reply
  3. start_wearing_purple

    14 years ago

    I know after you sign a player they basically get a short term no-trade clause to avoid sign and trades. Assuming he accepts arb and decides he doesn’t want to be traded, when would the Pads be able to trade him?

    Reply
    • AirmanSD

      14 years ago

      Unless you make a deal before the Arb. hearing. You can trade a player you hold the rights too without a contract.

      Reply
  4. East Coast Bias

    14 years ago

    Problem is…

    No one is going to want to give up 10m PLUS prospects for a relief pitcher (closer), when there are so many top notch closers hitting free agency this off season.

    Reply
    • TDKnies

      14 years ago

      Like when the Soriano accepted arb from the Braves and they had to dump him for Jesse Chavez.  *shudder*

      And that was without the type of closer market we’ll have this offseason.

      Reply
  5. rizdak

    14 years ago

    Offer him arbitration, sign him, and then deal him to Texas for Mike Adams straight up. I’m just saying…

    Reply
    • Jose

      14 years ago

      best comment I’ve heard by far. Come back MIKE!!!!

      Reply
  6. crackpotjack

    14 years ago

    Moorad said a few weeks ago that next season the payroll would only go up about 5 million to 50 million total.

    So giving Heath Bell a big contract would hurt the Padres. I think this season will be his last as a Padre

    Reply
  7. Beersy 2

    14 years ago

    Letting Bell walk for nothing is not an option for the Padres.  If he leaves they need to get something in return, hopefully draft picks the way the new ownership is willing to spend on the draft.  As much as Bell says he’ll accept arb, turning down probably close to 20 million dollars would have to be a hard pill to swallow.  I realize he wants to stay in San Diego, but at this point it doesn’t seem as though he fits into their plans and he may be left feeling unwanted.  In the end I believe his agent will talk him into declining arb and the Padres will still net their 2 draft picks for him.

    Reply
  8. johnnycomelately9

    14 years ago

    Bell just built a Palace in SD.  His kids go to school there, his wife loves SD, why would he want to leave SD?  He lives by the beach, enjoys the best year round weather.  Loves his team and coaches.  Is viewed as his team’s leader and the face of his franchise; and if he signs arbs he’ll make over 12 million to play baseball.  Personally I think he signs a 2 year 18-22 million dollar deal with an option for a 3rd year.  Moorad has already stated that 2012 payroll will be above 50 million moving towards the 70 range.  The bullpen is deep but there is no clear favorite for the closer role.  Brad Brach has 33 saves in the minors; but he’s had some recent struggles in AAA Tuscon. 

    Reply
    • JohnPaulP

      14 years ago

      Certainly there are plenty of valid reasons Bell would want to stay in San Diego.  The whole problem seems to be whether or not San Diego wants (can afford) to keep Bell.  Even if they increase payroll, any team with under a 100m/year salary paying a closer 10m a year is just poor payroll management (and I’d argue any team other than the Yankees paying a closer that money is really not all that great either.) 

      Bell’s a great and fun player, but if the franchise wants to win, spending money on starting pitchers, position players, and the draft and collecting prospects for big name guys now are going to go a lot further towards winning in the future than relief pitchers.

      Reply
  9. johnnycomelately9

    14 years ago

    btw if you put too much stock into Bell’s declining peripherals than you’re dumb.  Bell, 33, has a 2.55 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.34 HR/9, and 43.2% groundball rate on the season.  Those numbers are amazing.  Over the last 3 season’s he is arguably the best closer in the NL…  Moving forward he should be viewed as an elite relief option as his current production suggest.

    Reply
  10. johnnycomelately9

    14 years ago

    btw if you put too much stock into Bell’s declining peripherals than you’re dumb.  Bell, 33, has a 2.55 ERA, 6.8 K/9, 3.2 BB/9, 0.34 HR/9, and 43.2% groundball rate on the season.  Those numbers are amazing.  Over the last 3 season’s he is arguably the best closer in the NL…  Moving forward he should be viewed as an elite relief option as his current production suggest.

    Reply
  11. surfguru

    14 years ago

    One problem for Heath is that if he does accept arb., gets 10 – 11 mil, and then the Pad’s trade him, and say he doesn’t have that great of a year, or an injury, he could lose out on 20 million dollars or more.

    Now after he accepts, they could work out a multi year deal, but I do not think it is prudent to spend 20% of your total salary output on ANY reliever.

    I am in his corner, and think he deserves the money, but remember what they did to Trevor.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Astros To Promote Brice Matthews

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Recent

    Lee Elia Passes Away

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Poll: Which Teams Should Make The Biggest Push For Jarren Duran?

    MLB Finalizes Home Run Derby Field

    Astros To Promote Brice Matthews

    Giants Outright Sergio Alcántara

    Joe Coleman Passes Away

    Dodgers Outright CJ Alexander

    Trade Deadline Outlook: New York Yankees

    Clarke Schmidt To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version