"For better or worse, the Padres didn't want to be committed to Heath Bell when he was 37 or 38.

Aside from Bell accepting arbitration — the possibility of which delayed the Padres offseason planning — the club was never interested in signing him for more than two years with an option on a third season.

Which is why Huston Street will be the Padres closer in 2012 rather than Bell.

Five days after free agent Bell signed what could be a four-year, $36 million deal with the Miami Marlins, the Padres on Wednesday acquired right-handed closer Street and $1 million from the Colorado Rockies for a minor league player to be named later."