The Washington Nationals have agreed to terms with free-agent reliever Heath Bell, the player confirmed Monday.
Bell announced the deal - believed to be a minor-league contract, according to CSN's Mark Zuckerman - on The Players' Tribune website.
"Today I'm in DC because I'm still chasing that dream," Bell wrote. "At around noon today, I signed with the Nationals."
Bell joins his sixth organization in four years after earning three straight All-Star selections with the San Diego Padres from 2009-11. The right-hander made 13 appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2014, allowing 14 earned runs in just 17 1/3 innings.
| Heath Bell | ERA | K/9 | SV |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-11 | 2.36 | 9.6 | 132 |
| 2012-14 | 4.91 | 8.8 | 34 |
Despite his recent struggles, Bell published an essay on Derek Jeter's media website saying he still has the itch to compete:
I wouldn’t want to do anything else: you live and die by your last outing, by your last at-bat, by your last pitch. It’s what it means to be a closer. There’s nothing like it. Sure, you’re going to have hot streaks and cold streaks. But what I’ve learned from years of pitching on the biggest and not-so-biggest stages is that maybe more than any other position, the reliever’s challenge is mental.
Bell's deal reportedly includes an invitation to spring training.