Marlins Notes: Heath Bell Rumors, Josh Johnson, Billy Marlin

Here's the latest out of Miami, where there's absolutely no such thing as a dignified mascot, where Heath Bell rumors are heating up, and where the fans are realizing the cost of a Josh Johnson injury:

• Nothing close on Heath Bell - Sun-Sentinel
  "Signing Bell or Ryan Madson, who also has reportedly received an offer, would signal a philosophical shift for the Marlins. They’ve never allocated significant dollars to the bullpen, but they’ve done well on one-year deals with guys like Armando Benitez, Joe Borowski, Todd Jones and Kevin Gregg. Bell, 34, earned $7.5 million in 2011 and reportedly is looking for a three-year deal."
• Florida Marlins making run at Heath Bell, sources say - ESPN
  "Although Bell's strikeout rate declined from 11.1 per nine innings in 2010 to 7.3 this year, his average fastball velocity (94 mph), WHIP (1.15), ERA (2.44) and opponents' batting average (.223) were all in line with his previous performance. Bell, who made $7.5 million this season, is believed to be seeking a three-year deal."
• 2011 Marlins Season Review: Josh Johnson, the Injured - Fish Stripes
  "The Marlins boasted a variety of starting pitchers last year, though only a few were good enough to survive the season. One of those pitchers that did not last the year was Josh Johnson, though his situation was not one of poor play. Rather, Johnson only appeared in nine starts in 2011 because of a shoulder injury that begun as only mild inflammation but eventually ended his season."

• Will Heath Bell be the next Marlins closer? - The Palm Beach Post
  "Bell makes sense for the Marlins, who have eyes him in previous years. But they face competition from at least the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds."
• Three Teams In on Heath Bell, Including Marlins - MLB Daily Dish
  "Some of the speculated teams have been the Anaheim Angels and Boston Red Sox. The Red Sox lost their closer in Jonathan Papelbon this off season, as he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Red Sox have been linked to Bell for a long time, and a few weeks ago Bell himself mentioned that he would love to play with Adrian Gonzalez again, the Red Sox fist baseman"
• This is Billy the Marlin, the new mascot for the Florida Miami Marlins. - Lone Star Ball
  KILL IT WITH FIRE!!!