Marlins dump Bell in three-team trade
Heath Bell and Ozzie Guillen are getting a divorce.
The Miami Marlins traded Bell to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday following a year in which the right-handed reliever went 4-5 with a 5.09 ERA, lost his closer role more than once and ended the season saying the Marlins need a manager "that everybody respects and looks up to," as opposed to Guillen.
The Marlins signed Bell last winter to a three-year, $27 million that was back-loaded, with Bell due to make $20 million over the next two seasons. They are paying $8 million of what's remaining to send Bell packing, according to a team executive involved in the deal who spoke to USA TODAY Sports on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to discuss contract matters.
Before acquiring Bell, the Diamondbacks traded outfielder Chris Young and cash to the Oakland A's for shortstop Cliff Pennington and minor league infielder Yordy Cabrera. Arizona then sent Cabrera to the Marlins for Bell and cash.
"Adding another veteran arm to our bullpen should serve to shorten the game for us as we now have several relievers with closing experience to get the ball to J.J. Putz," Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers said.
Earlier in the day, the Diamondbacks picked up the 2013 contract option on Putz that pays him $6.5 million.
This is not the first time Towers has traded for Bell. In November 2006, as GM of the San Diego Padres, he acquired Bell from the New York Mets. Bell had two career saves to that point but went onto pick up 153 in five seasons with the Padres. The 35-year-old had 19 saves in 27 chances in 2012 for the Marlins.
It's unclear what role Bell will fill with the Diamondbacks. Putz led the team with 32 saves last season, also posting a 2.82 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings.
The deal also presents questions in Oakland, where the A's now have Young, Yoenis Cespedes, Josh Reddick and Coco Crisp in the outfield. Each of them is under contract for 2013, with Young set to make $8.5 million.
A center fielder throughout his six seasons with the Diamondbacks, Young hit a career-low 14 home runs with 41 RBI this season. For his career, the 29-year-old is a .239 hitter with a .755 on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS).
Pennington is also coming off a career-worst season, although he did play in 125 games for the A's as they surprised by winning the AL West. The shortstop hit .215 with a .589 OPS and figures to serve as a utility infielder in Arizona.
"Cliff is a blue-collar type player with postseason experience who can play both
middle-infield positions," Towers said. "He provides us with depth up the middle and
versatility at the plate as a switch-hitter."
Meanwhile, the Marlins end up with Cabrera, a 22-year-old third baseman who was a second-round pick in 2010. He hit .232 with a .625 OPS in 220 at-bats at high Class A this season.
This figures to be the start of an active offseason for the Marlins after posting a disappointing 69-93 record in 2012.