The Marlins and Angels are now the leaders to acquire Padres closer Heath Bell, this according to Bill Center of the San Diego Union-Tribune.
It was reported that the Marlins and Padres were discussing potential deals, but the latest had the Padres requesting Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller in return for Bell, and the Marlins quickly rejected that deal.
The Angles could be a sleeper in this whole Bell deal. The Angels have been quiet up to this point, but rumors that the Rangers are heavily working the phones could entice the Angels to get a bit more aggressive.
Here's a few other notes from Center:
- Heath Bell just signed a new one-year lease on his home in San Diego. I wonder what the refund policy is?
- The Boston Red Sox are still the leading candidate for Adrian Gonzalez, but the price will be very high.
- The Brewers had interest in Padres pitcher Kevin Correia , but that seems to have cooled.
- The Minnesota Twins have showed interest in Padres second baseman David Eckstein.
- Padres manager Bud Black said that if Bell is traded the team would move Mike Adams into the closer roll.