Gonzalez, Bell Part Of More Than One Failed Trade

The trade deadline went from, what looked like a day where the Padre fans could breathe a big sigh of relief, to that of complete shock as Jake Peavy was shipped to the Chicago White Sox for four pitchers.  A deal that was consummated in the final minutes prior to the deadline.

A few hours later, stories started coming out that Peavy almost wasn't alone in being shipped off to another city. 

Padres' first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and closer Heath Bell were part of two failed trades, two trades that would have made the Jake Peavy trade look like a "player to be named later," kind of trade.

According to Geoff Baker of the Seattle Times, the Padres, Red Sox and Mariners had been discussing a three way deal that would have sent Gonzalez and Bell to Seattle.  The Red Sox had actually submitted a list of players to the Mariners and told them they could pick five of the following players in exchage for Felix Hernandez.

• Clay Buchholz
• Daniel Bard
• Justin Masterson
• Nick Hagadone
• Michael Bowden
• Felix Doubront
• Josh Reddick
• Yamaico Navarro

So, Seattle would receive Adrian Gonzalez, Heath Bell and a list of prospects highlighted by Clay Buchholz.  The Mariners would send Felix Hernandez to Boston and then send Brandon Morrow, Phillippe Aumont and Carlos Triunfel to San Diego. 

If I'm Seattle, I can't imagine not making that deal.  If I'm getting one of the best first basemen in the game in Adrian Gonzalez, a solidifed closer in Heath Bell and then you're getting a young pitcher in Clay Buchholz not to mention four other prospects? 

Instead, the Mariners decided to hang on to the 23-year-old right hander and the Padres hung on to their All-Stars.

But, San Diego apparently wasn't done looking for trade partners.  They darn near came up with yet another blockbuster, this one included the Los Angeles Dodgers.

After the deadline had come and gone, Jon Heyman of SI.com learned that the Padres and Dodgers had been working on a trade that would have been equally as shocking, but really something that would have been interesting on San Diego's side.

Heyman posted, via Twitter, that the Padres were going to send Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell up the I-5 freeway to Los Angeles in return for James Loney, Russell Martin, Blake DeWitt, James McDonald and Ivan DeJesus. 

I don't know where this deal broke down, but I'm wondering if it was Los Angeles that balked at the deal because they would have to give up Loney, Martin and DeWitt in the same deal.  If the Dodgers actually offered the aformentioned players, I don't know how San Diego doesn't take that deal.

While the trade deadline has come and gone, there are still possibilities of the Padres making a waiver wire trade.  If you don't know how that works, you can click here for an explanation.

Not only could Bell and Gonzalez be put on waivers to see who else is interested in them, but they could also put guys like David Eckstein, Kevin Correia and Chad Gaudin through waivers as well.  With Eckstein just coming off the disabled list and the lack of interest in Correia, I'm not sure the interest is going to become any higher at this point.

Bottom line, the Padres are not done making their moves and don't be surprised if Adrian Gonzalez and Heath Bell are both wearing different uniforms either before the end of this season or prior to the 2010 season. 

It's not something I'd want to see as a Padre fan.  The thought of having a guy like Kyle Blanks, who's been lauching home runs since the All-Star break, hitting in the same lineup with Adrian Gonzalez for the next few seasons is a fun thought for me. 

But, the Padres are going through a complete rebuilding, and although we've heard this before, I'm willing to give new owner Jeff Moorad the benefit of the doubt before I make a judgement on his decisions.