10.22am: Rosenthal now hears from another source that it's "highly unlikely" the Padres will move Bell (Twitter links). They could hold him to keep the fans happy, and because they might be able to fetch more at the trade deadline.
9:38am: Adrian Gonzalez might not be the only Padres star on his way out of San Diego. Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports hears from a source that they will "absolutely" trade Heath Bell, who is likely to get a sizable raise from his $4MM salary in his last time through arbitration (Twitter link).
The free agent market includes Rafael Soriano and Bobby Jenks, but Bell could be an alternative for a team not wanting to commit multiple years to a reliever. Rosenthal speculates (on Twitter) that the White Sox, Angels, Rangers, Marlins, Cardinals, Blue Jays, and Rays could have interest in Bell, who owns a 10.4 K/9 and a 2.32 ERA as San Diego's closer over the last two seasons.
Spalding
Come on Kenny, get it done! Viciedo and Flowers 4 Bell?
Hitttman
How about Floyd?
Alan J
What about Floyd? You cant seriously think that KW would trade a young SP under favorable contract for a high priced aging reliever.
Hitttman
Then Beckham
Jake Humphrey
You must be crazy in your damn head.
Hitttman
Yeah, of corse, remember the Peavy trade?
Hitttman
Yeah, of corse, remember the Peavy trade?
Mario Saavedra
Heath Bell for 2 unknown prospects… wouldn’t you White Sox fans like that? you gotta give something to receive something.
Jake Humphrey
First off, I’m not a White Sox fan. Secondly, a reliever, no matter how good he is, is worth a pitcher like Gavin Floyd. Nor is he worth a middle infielder with 20HR power like Gordon Beckham, even after his sophomore slump. If Hoyer asked for either of those players, KW would hang up the phone and with good reason. Now, I’m not anything close to an expert on ChiSox prospects, but the discussion would start with those guys, not two key pieces to a potentially contending team.
BravesRed
I love how he referred to you as a ChiSox fan. It’s clear as day, it says Braves in your little picture.
jwsox
vicedio(only if konerko is signed) the padres need a 1stbasemen with power, he is young has huge power not a bad fielder at 1st and cheap under team controll for years…vicedio+jordank Danks+ relief prospect or two for heath bell…but doubt full it makes sense…if i were kenny i would go for it only if i strike out on soraino and putz
InsideSource
Viciedo/prospect for Bell is about right for both sides. Padres would love The Tank. He is very young and has incredible tools.
InsideSource
Konerko is returning. Trust me.
So is Putz.
InsideSource
Beckham had an incredible 2nd half of 2010 with an OPS of 877
Which is unreal for. 2N.
Mario Saavedra
Heath Bell for 2 unknown prospects… wouldn’t you White Sox fans like that? you gotta give something to receive something.
dc21892
Would have been nice to see Boston land him in the Gonzo deal too.
YODA777
Yeah, why not, just take Latos and Clayton Richard while you are at it lol. Heck, the Padres could even include some cash to ease the Red Sox pain. This Padre franchise is a joke if they finalize the trade of Gonz for the Red Sox junk.
padre44
Yoda. Relax dude. Everyone knows the Padres are completely tearing it down and starting over. If you could do better, you would be on a MLB payroll somewhere.
YODA777
Yeah, what is this, the 4th or 5th time in the last 25 years we have torn
it down and started over? Quite frankly, I am getting sick of it. Having
voted for Petco Park for the sole reason that we would be able to compete
and now this, makes me sick. And stop with the childish retort “If you
could do better, you would be on a MLB payroll somewhere,” what a stupid
comment. I am not a koolaide drinker, never was. I would never tell the
public that if you vote for a new stadium, we will be able to be competitive
in the FA market and then pull this stunt.
04Forever
The sox should have tried to get Heath as well, they really need relievers
AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs
Padres fans are officially on suicide watch.
padreshobo
Not really. No one should be surprised to see AGone or Heater leave.
Mario Saavedra
Yeah, but to be honest I was expecting at least a decent haul, not just junk and/or players very far away from wearing an MLB uni. With AGon and Bell in our team, we can compete, and that has to be at least worth something, aside from the draft picks they would get, and I think Hoyer is happy with receiving a package just a tad better than draft picks.
InsideSource
You might want to checkout Viciedo before you dismiss him as a return.
Tony P.
I don’t even understand why their trading Bell, weren’t they serious playoff contenders last year? He is by far one of the best relievers in the majors and its not like he is overpriced with the track record he has.
jwsox
yeah i dont get it either at least wait till the deadline and see if they are contending or not. probably get the same haul from boston then
Hitttman
Totally pissed off. Ever since Trevor time left San Diego (Trevor time = greatest entry on to the field in sports), I thought that Heath was coming into his own.
AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs
At least Hoffman isn’t closing any more games for you. It sucked when he left, but he’s nothing now.
YODA777
Hoffman was finished when he left, in addition, the Padres offered Hoffman and his big mouth $6mm and Hoffman turned it down. There are two sides to that story.
marlinsfanatic
I hope the Marlins can trade for Bell because I really don’t like Nunez closing out the games. The Padres liked Sean West last year so maybe he could be part of the deal.
NL_East_Rivalry
Marlins could really put up an amazing Pitching staff this year. If Stanton comes into his own and Hanely stays Hanely, Marlins can be very dangerous. They still need 1 or 2 good deals out there in the latter parts of the market.
marlinsfanatic
I agree with you 100% sounds like the Marlins are done with big deals unless a opportunity presents itself.
Dave_Gershman
Completely agree. I think the Uggla deal was a winner for them and their rotation is extremely underrated and the bullpen is one of the best in Baseball…Imagine Bell there as well? I love the Marlins!
Jake Humphrey
I still don’t comprehend how the Uggla deal was a “winner” for them. They could have gotten much, much more. Wren fleeced them.
jdub220
But… Infante was an all star!
Jake Humphrey
And….and….Dunn throws hard!
Tony P.
Once you watch Uggla attempt to field ground balls at Turner Field, then you can let us know if the Marlins got “fleeced”. Uggla is extremely one dimensional and as nice as it is to see him hit 30 homeruns, he strikes out a whole lot and leaves way too many runners stranded on base.
Jake Humphrey
I’ll be sure to tell you that as the Braves are wrapping up the NL East. The Marlins could have gotten an impact prospect for Uggla, instead they got a career utility man and one of our extra relievers, although Dunn’s stuff is amazing.
Tony P.
I understand where you are coming from as far as the point you made about the impact prospect but the fish aren’t building the roster to win four years from now, they want to win NOW and especially contend in 2012 at the new ballpark. They wanted guys that were ready now, just look what happened when they traded Cabrera for a load of top rated prospects….nothing. At the end of the day, most prospects are just prospects.
Mario Saavedra
To be honest, general perception of the deal is that the Marlins got fleeced, and me and many others can agree with that.
Tony P.
I am okay with that. However, i still do hate the word “fleeced”.
marlinsfanatic
Marlins don’t loose any power basically because we will have Mike Stanton for a whole year and Bucks power production is way more that what john baker/ ronny paulino did for the team last year. I think the Marlins are going to be exciting to watch. Better defense/ better pitching. Sounds more like the Marlins that won the 03 world series.
ze3
If the Angels are still trying to acquire a closer I would love Heath rather than Soriano
penpaper
If it means having Beltre AND Crawford, hell yes. I really hate closers signed to too many years, which is what Soriano will be looking for.
slider32
That’s a good fit. There are alot of teams that will be going after Bell.
Dave_Gershman
Have to think not only will he get traded in the winter meetings, but he’s likely to get traded before Soriano signs…Another team I’d like to throw in there, the A’s…They could use Bell as a set up man, or Bailey as the set up man. Never the less, he’d be a good fit there I think…
Here’s what I’m thinking…
A’s: Jemile Weeks and Tyson Ross
Marlins: Marcell Ozuna and Tommy Koehler
Cardinals: Eduardo Sanchez, Daniel Descalso, and D’Marcus Ingram
Rays: Alex Cobb, Jairo De La Rosa, and Alex Colome
Blue Jays: Drew Permison and Travis D’Arnaud
White Sox: Brandon Short and Dayan Viciedo
Angels: Jeremy Moore, Fabio Martinez Mesa, and Luis Jimenez
Rangers: Luis Sardinas and Mark Hamburger
marlinsfanatic
Marlins I could see Sean West, Ozzie Martinez, and Skipworth?
Dave_Gershman
Sean West doesn’t really have much value, though I like your idea, I could see Ozzie Martinez DEFINETLY being part of the trade. Can’t believe I didn’t mention him before…
Ozzie Martinez and Edgar Olmos could get it done.
Tony P.
There is no chance they would include Skipworth in a trade btw. Ozzie Martinez is a good possibility though.
ze3
Haha, you’re always trying to move Martinez-Mesa in every Angels possible trade. I kinda like that deal except for Jimenez, that is if the Angels don’t land a long term 3B this offseason
Dave_Gershman
Thanks man, but Jimenez would likely be thrown in to sweeten the deal. He really isn’t as good as people say he is. But Martinez Mesa is extremely underrated and he’s one of my favorites…But no biasism involved here.
AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs
I think the Blue Jays, Rays, and Cardinals are great fits
Dave_Gershman
I think the Cardinals and Jays make the most sense for Bell, but I don’t think the Cards would have the best offer.
Tony P.
I see the Marlins picking up Bell here. They have tried to acquire this guy for the last 3 years and nothing has happened. Throw in their new focus on revamping the bullpen and I think they should and would do what they can to get the guy. Besides, not sure if they would keep Nunez too but if they don’t he would be a great trade chip they can use to acquire a real CF.
billmelton
With signing Dunn and most likely re-signing Konerko, Viciedo may be the odd man out. Could see KW making a trade here. He’s been shopping lately…
jwsox
Vicedio is probably plan F in the sox fold…he could very well sit in AAA get more seasoning and find a place for him next year.(dare i say it Dunn in Left field) there is also the possibility of dyan being the back up 1st, 3rd, DH for more days off for the old dudes and being the first guy off the bench for pinch hitting…plan A is konerko now that adrian is off the market…plan b carlos pena(huge power great glove another lefty would be nice, a 1 year deal to rebuild his FA stock could work for him) plan C adam laroach (cheaper option than konerko, good power good avg and decent glove) plan D vicedio…….he could be packaged with someone to get an outfielder and move carlos to 1st (or dh let dunn play first) or packaged to get a good reliever
InsideSource
Plan B is D Lee.
InsideSource
Plan B is D Lee.
Beersy
I’m being lazy and I don’t want to look them all up, so are any of these players you list above SS’s? Without getting Iglesias in the Gonzo deal, which was expected, the Padres really need to get a young SS back in the Bell deal. I am a Padre fan and I really am excited for 3 or 4 years down the road. Hoyer knows the Padres have to build through the draft and the minors and he really helped the club out today. Go Padres.
Dave_Gershman
Don’t be lazy, come on!
Beersy
Well if you wouldn’t list every God damn prospect in the minors I wouldn’t have to be lazy. 🙂
Dave_Gershman
Haha! My bad
Jay212033
Braves could get involved, they may not want to hand the closers job over to a rookie or 1 yr player just yet. So how bout a bigger deal Bell, Cabrera, Durango and Poreda for Alex Gonzalez, Steven Marek(AAA), Scott Diamond(AAA) and J.J. Hoover(AA)
Jake Humphrey
You do realize that the Padres are packed with pitching, right? And Diamond isn’t even really much of a prospect. Wren’s isn’t going to send prospects out for a rental arm, and with Kimbrel and Venters in-house, we aren’t extending Bell.
Jay212033
Who cares about extending Bell it would give the Braves a veteran closer and allow Kimbrel and Venters to get more experience. I must be the only Braves fan who’s just not too comfortable with a rookie and a 1st year guy competing for the closer spot. Both guys also have control issues as well so I’d want a guy with experience closing out ball games right now.
Jake Humphrey
1. We can’t afford him, monetarily.
2. JJ Hoover is likely the only player in that package that would carry much value in a trade
3. Wren isn’t parting with his prospects.
It’s not about what you want, it’s about realizing the path Wren has set this team on and applying it logically to potential moves. Trading for a rental reliever is not something Wren would do.
Jay212033
1. The Braves could afford him, Bell would be getting a raise from 4 mil to about 6-7 mil the Braves still have about 3-4 mil left to spend plus trading Gonzo would add another 2.5 mil so they could afford him.
2. Marek has value but not much since he’s strictly a BP arm but the Pads are not going to get as much as people are thinking. He’s in a contract year and will be making 6-7 mil, look at what the Braves got for Soriano last season and he was just as dominant as Bell was.
3. He wouldn’t be trading his prized prospects more 2nd and 3rd tier guys i.e. Cofield for Linebrink.
Wren just traded for a rental reliever. He also like experience and character, I doubt Wren will make a move for another BP arm but an experienced closer would be great though is all I’m saying.
Jake Humphrey
Hoover is nowhere close to a Kyle Cofield type. He’d be a top-5 prospect in a lot of team’s systems, but we’ve got arms like Teheran, Delgado, and Vizcaino in front of him on the lists.
Jay212033
No but Diamond is but Hoover IS NOT a top tier prospect that’s why I said 2nd tier plus If Wren could get a Heath Bell and only have to give up Marek and Hoover I guarantee he’d do it in a heartbeat!
BravesRed
Why would Braves trade Gonzalez? They have no one close enough to take over for him. And, Hernandez sucks horribly.
Jay212033
We’d be getting Cabrera back from the Pads.
BravesRed
Um, i’ll stick with Gonzalez.
Jay212033
I won’t dude is garbage!
BravesRed
And, what do you call Cabrera? I know, a speedy player without nothing else. His offense and defense both suck.
BravesRed
Um, i’ll stick with Gonzalez.
Dave_Gershman
How does that even come close to helping the Padres?
Jay212033
Salary relief plus they were terrible at SS last season A-Gon would be good for them also Marek and Diamond would slide into their BP this season and Hoover would give them another 3rd/4th starter in another year.
YODA777
Salary relief? After Gonz, Garland, Young leave town, the Padres will have a payroll around $20 million lol.
AllYourBaseAreBelongToUs
Personally, I think the Braves should have gone all out for Gonzalez, not Bell.
Jake Humphrey
Why? We couldn’t have re-signed him.
Beersy
The only place the Padre should send Cabrera is to AAA, maybe even AA, to work on his game. When the Padres picked him in the Rule 5 draft he had never played above A. He had a little success his rookie year, but if they send him down and give him some time to figure things out I still think he will be all right. No need to rush him now. Build for 3-4 years down the road.
padre44
Alex Gonzalez makes no sense considering the Padres obvious strategy. And Cabrera will play 2B before they give up on him.
Moebarguy
Who would be the new closer, Adams or Gregerson?
BravesRed
Adams is better, so that’s my guess.
padre44
Adams can’t hold up. In the long run, it would be Gregerson.
Dave_Gershman
I’d take the ladder, although it might be someone like Frieri or Hoffman.
Moebarguy
You think they’re going to sign Hoffman?
padre44
makes zero sense, right?
YODA777
Where are you taking the ladder too lol?
padre44
Frieri after Gregerson.
massage_1953
Angels are looking for a new closer. They also have plenty of Minor League Prospects which San Diego might be interested in.
Dylan Zane
I know he’s a closer, but the yankees bullpen was so bad last year, that it might even make sense to get Bell to setup. I saw on mlbn it said they had something like 18 blown saves. Hows Joba for Bell? Too much?
Matt Busche
too much? Joba Chamberlain is terrible.
Matt Busche
too much? Joba Chamberlain is terrible.
Tigers94
HAHAHAHAHAHA. Joba, for the Closer with the 2nd most saves in the NL? How about Hughes or Gardner/Joba or Jesus Montero, even then I think its too little. Joba sucks.
Dylan Zane
Hey I asked a question you should kill me now… Joba still has pretty good potential. If someone can figure out what happened to him and how to fix it, I promise you he will be a dominant pitcher. You don’t go from throwing 97-100 to 92-95 in a season. And you also don’t lose all control over a season for no reason either.
Matt Busche
and no GM would trade for Joba when his upside is Heath Bell and his downside is to continue to be terrible.
Dylan Zane
You’re insane, his upside is a GREAT starter and lowpoint is whatever Cashman’s bullpen experiment is. I’ll agree that Joba is too little for Bell, but you can’t say that Joba’s value is gone, when just two years ago, he was considered a better prospect or equal to Phil Hughes.
BravesRed
You laugh at Joba for Bell. Your Montero for Bell is more laughable. Montero probably has more value than Bell.
Gumby65
Hold on to Bell to make the fans happy? Saving games will make fans happy. Thing is, you have to have a lead in the late innings to get a save. Padre fans will not be happy either way.
Loren Casuto
If your going to rebuild then don’t just get rid of the best player get rid of the second best, and this is coming from a Padres fan. At the rate this team is disintegrating we aren’t going to get in many ball games that will require a closer anyway, so why keep him and pay him alot? Get two prospects and pray 2011 is decent
missyae
When are the Yankee fans gonna figure out, NOBODY wants Joba and you are stuck with him.
Beersy
Does anybody know what All Star closer usually fetch in a trade? A top 5 prospect, a top 10 prospect? It will be interesting what Hoyer can get.
condorave
Loney and a prospect for Bell.