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Heath Bell

Olney On Rangers, Bell, Dodgers

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Reds slugger Joey Votto could be on his way to a second-straight MVP award, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney.  Pitchers now work around Votto with extreme wariness and the 27-year-old can no longer predict what's coming.  Because of that, the first baseman has adapted and learned to work with what he's given.  Here's more from Olney..

  • The Rangers bullpen has taken a major blow after losing closer Neftali Feliz to the disabled list.  This is a difficult time to land a reliever, especially a closer, because other teams will have a skyhigh asking price. For example, Olney writes that if Texas were to call the Padres about Heath Bell, the Padres would ask for a great deal in return, even though Bell is likely to be dealt this season.
  • In the highest offices of a handful of other teams, there is heavy speculation that Brewers owner Mark Attanasio would be the most likely candidate to move from one team to the Dodgers.  This can only happen, of course, if Major League Baseball maintains their hold on the club and if they decides to have an established owner take over the Dodgers.  Such a scenario, Olney writes, would take months to play out.

Olney On The Bullpen Market

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Teams like the Yankees and White Sox are already encountering bullpen problems and it won’t be long before other clubs are looking for relief help as well. The Yankees aren’t optimistic about the current relief market, while Chicago’s search for an effective closer has manager Ozzie Guillen dreaming of Bobby Thigpen. As one GM points out to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, lots of teams will be looking for bullpen help this summer and lots of effective pitchers should eventually become available.

Unless Heath Bell takes a massive discount to stay in San Diego, Olney suggests the Padres will deal him. The White Sox should be considered the early favorites to land Bell, Olney says.

Jonathan Broxton, Francisco Rodriguez and the Blue Jays and Rays relievers could also become available this summer. Jose Valverde will probably stay in Detroit unless the Tigers fall far out of the race, but Michael Wuertz (now on the disabled list) could be on the block even if Oakland contends.

NL West Notes: Bell, Kemp, McCourt

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The latest from the NL West, as Troy Tulowitzki hits his first home run of the season…

  • Padres closer Heath Bell, who has expressed his desire for an extension, says he will stop discussing his contract status in the media, according to Tom Krasovic of Inside the Padres. The Padres had preliminary discussions with Bell about an extension earlier in the spring. If they don't sign him long-term, he'll become a free agent after the season.
  • Matt Kemp is in a different state of mind this year, writes Yahoo's Tim Brown. The talented Dodgers center fielder says he's putting his disappointing 2010 campaign behind him.
  • Dodgers owner Frank McCourt sent representatives to meet with the commissioner's office about preserving the rights to the team, according to Bill Shaikin of the LA Times. McCourt's people proposed a plan that involves a TV deal with Fox that could help stabilize the team. 
  • Jon Heyman of SI.com, who first reported the meeting, says that McCourt needs $200MM to settle his divorce and keep the team.

Rosenthal On Bell, Gonzalez, Marlins, A’s

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There are still no signs that the Padres are willing to trade Heath Bell before Opening Day, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. The Padres have started discussing an extension with their closer, who hopes to continue his career in San Diego. Here are the rest of Rosenthal’s rumors, including more on the Padres:

  • The Mariners made a strong push for Adrian Gonzalez last Spring Training, according to Rosenthal.
  • The Marlins aren’t likely to look outside of the organization for help if they demote Matt Dominguez, according to Rosenthal. Florida’s front office does not have much payroll flexibility.
  • The Padres and A’s are looking for backup infielders who can play short. We heard over the weekend that the Padres are looking at Alberto Gonzalez and Robert Andino. Luis Hernandez of the Mets is also drawing trade interest, possibly from Oakland and San Diego.

Padres, Heath Bell Talk Extension

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Padres GM Jed Hoyer met with agents Sam and Seth Levinson of ACES last week for 2-3 hours to discuss a possible extension for Padres closer Heath Bell, according to MLB.com’s Barry Bloom. Bell repeated that he would like to stay in San Diego and is willing to take a discount to remain with the Padres, as long as the team can be flexible, too.

"My biggest thing is that I'd like three years," Bell said. "That's my biggest thing. If it means taking less money, then that's something I'll do to make sure I'm here for the next three years or more."

Hoyer told Bloom that the sides had a “good meeting" and that he’d like to keep Bell. The closer, who will hit free agency after the season if the sides don’t reach a deal, said he’s open to negotiating an extension during the season.

Bell, 33, will earn $7.5MM this season in his final season of arbitration eligibility. He saved 47 games last year, when he posted a 1.93 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 and made his second consecutive All-Star team.

Bell Would Accept Discount To Stay With Padres

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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.

Padres Notes: Bell, Zaun, Bullpen

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Here's the latest from the Padres as they try to match their surprising 2010 season…

Padres, Bell Will Discuss Multiyear Deal

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Heath Bell is surprised to still be a Padre, according to MLB.com's Corey Brock, but he's also very happy about it. Bell told Brock that he loves San Diego and that his agents, Sam and Seth Levinson of ACES, will discuss a multiyear extension with the Padres this Spring:

"My understanding is that [talks are] going to blossom during Spring Training. I'm not going to worry about it. My agents will come here in March and they'll talk then. I like that we are going to talk. If we can get it done, great. If not, OK. But at least we are trying."

Bell, 33, earned a $3.5MM raise through arbitration, pushing his salary up to $7.5MM — the highest salary of any Padres player. He's expressed his desire to stay in San Diego on a long-term deal multiple times this offseason, and the Padres would probably love to continue to have Bell finish games for them.

Since becoming the Padres' closer after Trevor Hoffman's departure, Bell owns a 2.32 ERA through 139 2/3 innings with a 10.6 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9. His 89 saves over the past two years are the most in baseball.

A multiyear deal for Bell right now would likely be beneficial to him, as he'll have plenty of competition on the free agent market following this season. Bell is currently set to join Jonathan Broxton, Jonathan Papelbon, and Matt Capps, while Francisco Rodriguez, Joe Nathan, Brad Lidge, Rafael Soriano, and others could hit free agency as well, depending on their contractual options.

Bell says he understands that changing teams is the nature of the business, but doesn't want to move from the players and coaches he now considers his family. His biggest problem may be San Diego's payroll. With payroll under $45MM, it may be financially difficult to retain Bell at even a below-market rate in the long term, as MLBTR's Zach Links discussed earlier this offseason.

From the Padres' side of things, Bell is ranked as a Type A free agent. Barring some form of disaster, the Padres would collect two draft picks if they offer him arbitration and he departs to another club.

Players To Avoid Arbitration: Tuesday

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Today is the deadline for players and teams to submit arbitration figures. The sides will then settle on a salary between the team's proposed number and the player's proposed number or go to an arbitration hearing. Arbitration eligible players are under team control, so the clubs don't risk losing them – it's a question of how much the players will earn.

Yesterday, 11 players avoided arbitration. We could see just as many agreements trickle in today and we'll keep you posted on them right here and with our Arb Tracker. The latest updates will be at the top of the post:

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Padres, Heath Bell Avoid Arbitration

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The Padres avoided arbitration with Heath Bell, agreeing to terms on a one-year, $7.5MM deal, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter). The closer was arbitration eligible for the third time after making $4MM in 2010. Bell, an ACES client, is set to hit free agency after the season.

Bell had expressed interest in a multiyear deal, but it wouldn't be easy for the Padres to commit $7.5MM-plus on an annual basis when their payroll sits under $50MM. GM Jed Hoyer hasn't publicly ruled out an extension, but at this point it appears that Bell is headed for the open market after the season, where he'll be joined by closers Jonathan Papelbon, Jonathan Broxton, Matt Capps and others.

Bell posted a 1.93 ERA with 11.1 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 70 innings last year. He made his second consecutive All-Star team and saved 47 games, anchoring the Padres' fine bullpen.

Though Bud Black's 'pen will look considerably different in 2011, Bell, Mike Adams and Luke Gregerson will return. Chad Qualls is nearing a deal with the Padres and his presence will help offset the loss of Edward Mujica, Ryan Webb, Adam Russell and Cesar Ramos.

Chase Headley, Ryan Ludwick, Adams and Tim Stauffer are the Padres' remaining unsigned arbitration eligible players, as MLBTR's Arb Tracker shows.

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