MLB Trade Rumors: Should Heath Bell Suitors Look at Drew Storen Instead?

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Until a deal is signed, sealed, and delivered, San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell is going to be front and center in trade rumors for the next couple weeks. The trade deadline is fast approaching, and he is undoubtedly the best closer on the market now that Francisco Rodriguez has been traded.

Or is he?

On Monday, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that the Washington Nationals are entertaining offers for their own closer, Drew Storen. Rosenthal says they’ll only trade him “if they can improve long-term by filling a specific need,” but there’s clearly more to this than mere speculation.

So now we have two very good closers on the market. Which one should teams target?

Because he’s a three-time All-Star who has established himself as one of the more reliable closers in baseball, you might be quick to say Bell. Besides, he has 26 saves this year, and his 2.54 ERA and 1.21 WHIP are also pretty good.

Yes. But Storen is no slouch. He only has 24 saves to Bell’s 26, but Storen’s 2.47 ERA and 0.95 ERA look pretty good next to Bell’s numbers. Moreover, Storen has Bell beat in innings pitched (47.1 to 39) and opponents’ batting average (.190 to .225).

You can talk all you want about numbers being misleading, but the side-by-sides have to at least make you question whether or not Bell is really worth San Diego’s asking price. Because the Padres have understandably set the bar pretty high, the answer might just be no.

If so, don’t be surprised if the market for Storen heats up. That will invariably make the Nats raise their own asking price, which ironically could force the Padres to lower their asking price for Bell lest they miss out on all the fun. True, they’ll get draft picks if Bell walks as a free agent, but there has to be prospects out there that GM Jed Hoyer would prefer to have.

It’s going to be an interesting situation to monitor, make no mistake about that. Enjoy it while it lasts.

-Zachary D. Rymer

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