"Bud Black noted the "irony of the moment."

As the Padres manager entered the media room at baseball's annual Winter Meetings Monday, Heath Bell was exiting.

Moments earlier, Bell had formally been introduced as the closer of the Miami Marlins. Instead of handing Bell the ball in a save situation, Black was bidding farewell to the only player who had been with him throughout his first five seasons as the Padres manager.

"Closer is a big priority," Black admitted during his opening remarks of his official media session.

"There are a number of guys on the (free agent) market and a guy or two available in trades. But having Heath was very comforting. I've been very lucky with the closers I've had.""