What to do with Bell?

[love_that_reefer]

Heath Bell said Sunday that he would be willing to give the Padres a discount this offseason but wants a three-year contract.
This after Bell pitched an emotional scoreless ninth (non-save situation), striking out two. The Padres are a longshot to contend in the near future, so it remains to be seen if they're willing to spend a big chunk of money on a reliever when they can get two top draft picks as compensation if they let Bell walk. Should the team choose to let Bell test free agency, look for the star closer to sign with a west coast team.

With Adams now gone, should the Padres re-sign Bell or let him walk and take the draft picks? I say take the pics and let him walk even if he does come at a discount.

[HollywoodLeo]

I would have no problem taking the draft picks.

Although it'd be funny reading/listening to the whiners complaining about how we "could have at least gotten something for him and now he's walking and we get nothing in return" because nobody knows about compensation picks apparently.

[love_that_reefer]

There's just no reason to pay out the ass for Bell for three years considering he'll be 34 years old next season. I just wanted your (or anyone's) thoughts now that Adams, the closer to be, is now gone. Padres are better off spending that money elsewhere.

[HollywoodLeo]

I won't complain if they do keep him. But that's mainly because I don't think they're as far off as many think they are. They were competing as recently as last year (and I don't buy that that was all because of Adrian).

The pitching hasn't been the problem this year but it also hasn't been as good as it was last year. If they shored up the pitching a bit more and made a few key additions to the offense then they can be back in the mix of a weak NL West IMO.

Whether or not they do that is another story, but I think it can be done.

That being said, 2 draft picks for a closer is still a good deal so I'd be cool with that. Gregerson or Frieri can close. I guess Qualls can as well, but I wouldn't want him to.

[love_that_reefer]

Bell now says he will accept arbitration if a deal can't be struck. NO draft picks for the Padres but I guess it's nice of Bell to want to stay.

[HollywoodLeo]

I guess it's not a bad thing that we "have" to keep Bell.

[realmofotalk]

The pitching hasn't been the problem this year but it also hasn't been as good as it was last year. If they shored up the pitching a bit more and made a few key additions to the offense then they can be back in the mix of a weak NL West IMO.

The NL West is so weak that this team you say is capable of being in the mix is as of today 14 games behind the lead. Huh?

And I like how you make it seem as if key additions to offense who could close such a gap are freely available talent.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BRAD HAWPE WASN'T A KEY ADDITION!??!

[HollywoodLeo]

Far be it from me to be a bit optimistic.

I'm sure Arizona was never 14 games back last year.

[realmofotalk]

Well, if you can figure out a way to transplant Arizona's roster to San Diego's, I'm sure SD can make up those 14 games.

[HollywoodLeo]

Obviously I was merely using them as an example to point out the flaw in your argument that I'm foolish to think San Diego can compete in a year or two because they're currently 14 games out.

And nice job on the edit with the Brad Hawpe remark because I was obviously talking about this year when I said in a year or two, right?

[HollywoodLeo]

Anyway, I eagerly look forward to the bump this time next year if the Padres are losing again even though I never made any predictions, only saying what I think can be done.

[realmofotalk]

Obviously I was merely using them as an example to point out the flaw in your argument that I'm foolish to think San Diego can compete in a year or two because they're currently 14 games out.

And nice job on the edit with the Brad Hawpe remark because I was obviously talking about this year when I said in a year or two, right?

The point of my Brad Hawpe remark was give an example of the Padres' idea of key additions to the offense. You wouldn't think the Dodgers would compete either if they likewise were resigned every year to throwing shit like Jay Gibbons into the lineup and seeing if it sticks, now would you?

[HollywoodLeo]

Except Ned Colletti has been at the job for 5 years now so he has a bit more of a track record than Jed Hoyer's 1.5 years (encompassing one offseason)

[realmofotalk]

Yes, but Ned's spent just 1.5 of his 5 years with Frankie holding a gun to his head.

[HollywoodLeo]

Not sure what that has to do with jumping to the conclusion that just because Jed signed Brad Hawpe this year that it means that's the best he'll ever add to the offense (via any means).