Padres’ Heath Bell relieved to stay in San Diego
Less than two weeks ago, as trade rumors swirled leading up to the trade deadline, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell was going to be finishing the season in a different uniform.
The deadline came and went but Bell remained a Padre, contrary to all of the reports that an impending move was as close to a sure thing as possible.
“I thought I was gone, 99%. Honestly. I thought I was gone,” Bell told The Good Point. “Just because there were absolutely no talks about a contract and everybody was talking; ESPN, MLB, writers.”
Bell had obvious reason to feel that he was going to be traded. After all, not only has the California native been one of baseball’s best relievers ever since he put on a Padres uniform for the first time back in 2007, but teams kept constantly calling general manager Jed Hoyer, optimistic about their chances of acquiring the shutdown right-hander.
This season, Bell has managed a tidy 2.70 ERA in 46.2 innings, allowing just 39 hits and one home run. His aggressiveness to get ahead in the count – having thrown more first-pitch strikes this season than any other since his first year with the Padres in ’07 – has helped him continue to thrive as a closer and rack up 32 saves in 35 opportunities so far this season.
It’s easy to see why he was so desired prior to the trade deadline, as over 10 teams were rumored to be interested in his services. To Bell, though, the reports were flattering, but always ignored.
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“I really don’t pay attention to that, but I think it’s pretty cool,” the 33-year-old said. “I’ve just always wanted to play baseball and that was it; it’s kind of cool how everybody wanted [me] and really thought that I could help them out.”
Bell’s track record was an even bigger reason as to why teams were trying to trade for him, as it’s hard to ignore what he’s done since he became San Diego’s closer in 2009. In his first two seasons in the role, Bell compiled 2.32 ERA and 1.160 WHIP while allowing just 110 hits in 139.2 innings, along with 89 saves and a whopping 165 strikeouts.
Not bad for a pitcher who allowed 129 hits in 108 innings and managed a 4.92 ERA and 1.472 WHIP in parts of three seasons with the New York Mets, where he began his career before a 2006 trade brought him to the Friars.
Aside from his statistics at PETCO Park speaking for themselves, Bell has enjoyed playing in San Diego, and it’s been with the Padres where he has evolved into one of the game’s finest relievers. Now in his fifth season with the club, being firmly grounded in San Diego has extra significance for Bell, who was born in the nearby city of Oceanside, and went to high school just two hours outside of Friar country in Tustin.
Needless to say, when all of the trade rumors ended and Bell wound up remaining a Padre, he was more than happy. Being a father and family man, though, relieved is probably the better word.
“It really feels good,” said Bell about remaining with the Padres after the deadline. “I have four kids and I get to play with them in the backyard and tuck them in at night. I really wasn’t stressed out about [the rumors] but I think the kids were, the family, just talking about it, ‘Dad’s going to be gone’, this and that.”
“My son’s going to start a different school, so they feel more relieved than anything, and that makes me feel good that they feel better about the whole situation. At the end of the day, it didn’t happen.”
Though the trade deadline is now a thing of the past, Bell won’t have to wait long before becoming the topic of discussion once again, since he becomes an unrestricted free agent for the first time in his career at the end of the season.
Bell has publicly stated his desire to remain in San Diego as well as a willingness to accept a discount on a contract extension from the rate that he could potentially earn on the free agent market. Those contract talks have yet to gain any steam apparently, but it’s clear that San Diego is where Bell wants to be.
Many players salivate over the thought of becoming a free agent with their eyes set on a big pay day, but as Bell sees it, free agency is not as glamorous to him as it might be to another player.
“When you’re a free agent, you’re unemployed. That’s the way I take it,” the three-time All-Star said. “Honestly, do I want to be unemployed this winter? No. I don’t really want to become unemployed, but that might happen.”
Instead of free agency, Bell’s focus is on continuing to anchor a Padres bullpen and notching saves. Simply put, he’ll worry about his contract situation when the time is right.
“I’ll just figure it out later.”
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