Fish Stripes Authors Reaction to the Miami Marlins Heath Bell Trade

Earlier today, Fish Stripes reported on the three-team trade that sent Heath Bell from the Miami Marlins to the Arizona Diamondbacks, along with $8 million to cover a part of Bell's remaining $21 million in his contract, in return for minor league infielder Yordy Cabrera. I mentioned that the trade was an unmitigated success even though the team received very little in return for Bell, mostly because Bell was a negative trade asset at this stage.

As part of our ongoing coverage of the trade, the authors of Fish Stripes have also reacted to the deal, and their reactions are shown below.

Conor Dorney (Analaysis, Prospects and Draft Coverage)

You had to figure that the Marlins were going to do everything in their power to get rid of Heath Bell this winter and it looks like Miami scored big in this deal. Local product and 3B prospect Yordy Cabrera has struggled since being drafted out of Lakeland HS in the second round back in 2010, but the good news is he's just 22 years old and perhaps a trade to his hometown organization will be a nice change of scenery. By far the best part of this deal for the Marlins, however, is the D-backs reportedly picking up $13 million of the $21 million owed to Heath Bell over the rest of his deal. Paying $8 million to Heath Bell still sounds ridiculous, but it's a whole lot better than having to pay him $21 million over the next two seasons. Who knows what this all means for Ozzie Guillen's situation but at this point, the Marlins have to be happy with getting rid of a guy who was pretty much a disaster from day one.

Scott G. (Fish Bites)

The Miami Marlins trading Heath Bell is not a surprise. In fact, it was almost expected. Prior to the end of the season, Bell and manager Ozzie Guillen began publicly exchanging comments about one another. Guillen's job was considered to be "in jeopardy" from the first day of the offseason, however trading Bell may mean that the Marlins are happy with Guillen as their manager. In terms of the players involved in the trade, Miami gains a young and talented third baseman, which is important because of the fact that the team traded both Hanley Ramirez and Matt Dominguez, leaving them with no depth at third base. Overall, after a disappointing season as a setup man, the Marlins aren't losing that much. Loria's experiment didn't work out as expected, and this trade clearly reflects that.

Ehsan Kassim (Analysis)

The Miami Marlins dumped Heath Bell one year after signing him. That is the best move the Marlins will make this off season. Bell was already on shaky ground with Marlins fans and would have to be lights out to justify his contract to many fans.

That was not to be. Bell struggled from the get go and even lost his job. What further buried Bell's demise in Miami was his failure to accept responsibility. Bell was quick to blame others for his shortcomings, including his catcher and manager.

Marlins fans, rejoice, Bell is gone. Ozzie is likely to stay. Nothing to get excited about for the prospect, Yordy Cabrera though. At least he is not Heath Bell.

Jon Melton (Fish Bites Author, Debuting Next Friday)

"I put a Heath Bell poster on my door and now it won't close." The days of Bell bashing are over for Marlins fans, and it appears as if the Steve Cishek era has officially begun. Good riddance you say? Not so fast. While Bell's performance in Miami was likened to a train wreck in slow-motion, friends of the Fish shouldn't be banging the pots and pans just yet.

It's no secret that the Marlins are in dire need of offense, and with Heath Bell on his way to Arizona, this all but slams the door on Alex Rodriguez wearing orange and black (and green, and blue, and yellow, and silver) next season. Some say that A-Rod is washed up, but who knows what a change of scenery could have done for the slugging third baseman - a position of need for the hometown Fish. Miami got the least amount of offensive production from the corner infield spots, and Rodriguez could have added that extra bat. Not only could he have added the bat, he could have been a run producer for the Marlins. Miami finished the 2012 regular season ranked 29th out of 30 teams in runs scored, ahead of only the lowly Houston Astros.

Time will tell if Yordy Cabrera will pan out or not, that's why they're called prospects. For the Marlins, if the opportunity had been there to push Bell over the side and rescue a flailing future hall-of-famer without having to foot the bill, the front office should have found a way to make it happen. Just another fail from Beinfest and company.