MLB Trade Rumors: New York Yankees Turn Attention to Heath Bell?

Last night, the rumors of the Yankees pursuing Ubaldo Jimenez ended when the Cleveland Indians traded four prospects for the Rockies ace.

With the market for a starting pitcher literally non-existent, the Yankees will turn their attention into another direction.

According to Jon Heyman of WFAN and Sports Illustrated through his Twitter, the Yankees will now look to enter the chase for San Diego Padres closer Heath Bell.

Bell is the best closer available on the market and the Padres are in last place, so making a trade makes sense for them.

Bell is 2-3 with a 2.34 ERA with 30 saves and was on the National League All-Star team.

It would make sense for the Yankees to look to upgrade their bullpen, considering Damaso Marte, Pedro Feliciano and Joba Chamberlain are all out with injuries.

They did just get back Rafael Soriano, who had been out on the disabled list since May.

The only question now becomes, what do the Padres ask for from the Yankees in return for Bell, who will be a free agent after 2011.

We had heard over the last week that the Texas Rangers were a heavy favorite for Bell, but they did just acquire Koji Uehara from the Baltimore Orioles for Chris Davis and Tommy Hunter, so their pursuit might not be as strong.

The St. Louis Cardinals are also in the running, but in their three-team deal, they picked up Octavio Dotel. But that doesn't take them out completely of the running.

The Blue Jays, Phillies and Angels also were rumored to have interest as well.

There has been a lot of talk that Bell might take less money to return to San Diego because he likes it there so much. So if that is in fact true and Bell does go back to San Diego in 2012, Bell is nothing more than the typical rental player.

The Yankees did this with Kerry Wood last year, getting him from Cleveland last July only to see him return to the Cubs in the offseason.

But the Yankees know their bullpen is very thin outside of Mariano Rivera, David Robertson and possibly Soriano, if he returns to form.

With the 4 p.m. deadline looming in a few hours, will the Yankees make a move to get someone like Bell?

Or will Yankees GM Brian Cashman stand put and go with what he has now into the stretch run of the season?

The clock is ticking.