The Marlins have closed the book on failed closer Heath Bell.
Bell was traded Saturday to the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a three-team deal in which Miami received minor-league infielder Yordy Cabrera from the Oakland A's.
The Marlins agreed to pay $8 million of the remaining $21 million still owed to Bell. The A's received outfielder Chris Young from the Diamondbacks while giving up shortstop Cliff Pennington to Arizona.
In trading Bell, the Marlins discarded a ninth-inning specialist who repeatedly turned wins into losses on the field and become a malcontent off it.
The Marlins signed the 35-year-old reliever last December to a three-year, $27 million deal. But the former San Diego Padres closer turned out to be a huge bust, losing his job after blowing six saves before the All-Star break and eight all together.
He finished with 19 saves, a 4-5 record and 5.09 ERA.
Unhappy with his diminished role, Bell was openly critical of pitching coach Randy St. Claire, the training staff and even the Showtime production crew that filmed “The Franchise.” Bell said he was portrayed too negatively during the series.
For the Marlins, the final straw with the disgruntled Bell might have come the final week of the season when Bell, in a live radio interview, said it was "hard to respect" manager Ozzie Guillen.
The following day, Bell's teammates on the Marlins, in a show of support for Guillen, turned on the manager's weekly radio show inside the clubhouse, raised the volume, and made Bell listen to Guillen state that he no longer respected Bell "as a person."
Cabrera, 22, was the A's second-round draft pick in 2010 out of Lakeland.
At Single A Stockton last season, Cabrera hit .232 with three homers and mostly played shortstop. He is currently playing third base in the Arizona Fall League.
