"These Florida … er … Miami Marlins are serious about winning, and as was their strategy in 1997, "winning" apparently means dipping into the free-agent pool.

But, in spite of their rumored pursuit of high-ticket names like Albert Pujols, Jose Reyes and C.J. Wilson, the beginning step to the Marlins' free-agent makeover addressed the end: Late Thursday night, the team inked closer Heath Bell to a three-year, $27 million deal, per ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

The Marlins' desire for a new finisher was obvious; this is a team whose former closer, Leo Nunez … er … Juan Carlos Oviedo, is tangled in legal issues related to his falsified identity. Oviedo might not even pitch in the majors in 2012, so a ninth-inning change in Miami was obvious. Heck, along with the new ballpark, the move mirrors the Marlins' 2012 theme: Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

Here's the conundrum for fantasy owners: Bell's value, too, should change.

Bell's critics are quick to point out his precipitous drop in strikeouts, and it's an absolutely valid point. His 7.3 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio and 19.9 percentage of batters faced that resulted in a K not only set career lows, they represented 33.6 and 33.7 percent drops in those categories from his 2010 numbers. Opposing hitters put 12 more balls in play against Bell in 2011 than 2010, and they did so in 31 fewer plate appearances, meaning hitters put the ball in play against him 11.9 percent more often last season than in 2010."