Heath Bell, Aaron Harang receive arbitration offers from San Diego Padres – MLB News
As the deadline to offer salary arbitration offers was Wednesday, the San Diego Padres has also come forward with an offer to free agents Heath Bell and Aaron Harang just before the deadline at San Diego.
Star player Heath Bell and Aaron Harang will now have to accept or decline the offer until 11:00 p.m. on December 7. The players have already mentioned to use every minute before the deadline on December 7. According to the rules of contract, if any or both
of the players decline to accept the deal, the Padres will get a bonus of two extra drafts for the coming season.
Bell, who is expected to accept the offer, has interest to stay in the Padres. The three-time All-Star player earned $7.5 million in 2011 and if he agrees to accept the offer, it is expected the right-hander will get even more than the salary he got in this
past season. However, the Padres have not shown their trump cards until the decision announced by the pitcher.
"Obviously, the Heath Bell situation will affect us a lot. If he doesn't accept [arbitration], we'll have more money," Padres’ general manager Josh Byrnes said recently. "Right now, things are moving a little slower until we know what happens with Heath."
Bell had announced earlier this month that he would accept the salary arbitration, if he does not get a multi-year deal by any Major League club. Bell is a Type-A free agent, which means, according to the new rules, if he does not accept the offer, the Padres
will get two draft picks for the 2012 season. Under the old rules, the Padres might have received the highest draft and supplement round selections.
This past season, Bell played only 64 games and had 3-4 record with a 2.44 ERA with only 62.2 innings. Josh Byrnes admits the greatest value of the Bell with the ball in hand and standing on the mound.
Aaron is a Type-B agent, which means the Padres will get one draft pick, if he does not accept the salary arbitration by the December 7 deadline. Last month, Harang had to hear about how the right-handed pitcher, who tossed 14-7 with a career best 3.64 ERA
did not get acceptance from the Padres on a $5 million mutual option deal.
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