On this episode of Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak checks in with Heath Bell as he reports from Mets (...really?) Fantasy Camp in Florida. The hosts break down the Padres’ unexpected decision to hire former reliever Craig Stammen as their next manager and explore how his long-standing organizational ties and respected clubhouse presence could shape the team heading into 2026.

Alex and Heath also dive into key roster developments: Dylan Cease and Michael King receive qualifying offers, Yu Darvish is officially ruled out for the season, and the Padres lock in outfield stability by exercising Ramón Laureano’s team option. Awards season brings more good news to San Diego as Manny Machado claims another Silver Slugger and Fernando Tatis Jr. secures his second Platinum Glove. The episode also spotlights a meaningful civic tribute—the renaming of a block near Petco Park as Peter Seidler Way.

The show wraps with a reflective conversation on the Netflix documentary Who Killed the Montreal Expos?, sparking memories from both hosts about Montreal’s storied baseball past and the franchise’s lasting imprint on the game.

Chapters:

00:00 - Heath Bell... Live from Florida? 02:52 - Padres Introduce Craig Stammen as Manager 07:46 - Padres Updates: Dylan Cease, Michael King, Yu Darvish, Ramón Laureano 10:44 - Silver Sluggers, Gold Gloves, and Platinum Gloves... Oh My! 12:23 - City of San Diego Dedicates Peter Seidler Way 13:36 - Florida vs. Arizona Training Facilities 15:36 - Reel MVPs: Who Killed the Montreal Expos? (Netflix) 19:25 - Gary Carter Memories...

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Today on Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak and three-time All-Star Heath Bell open up a pack of nostalgia and free agency insight. Heath takes listeners behind the curtain of his own 2011 offseason — when he left San Diego for Miami — revealing what it’s really like to weigh offers, choose between fit and money, and navigate the stress of the open market.

From there, the guys turn their focus to Cooperstown and the Contemporary Baseball Era Player Ballot, featuring legends like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Don Mattingly, Dale Murphy, and former Padres Gary Sheffield and Fernando Valenzuela. The duo debates who truly belongs in the Hall of Fame and why baseball’s “steroid era” deserves to be part of the game’s story.

To close things out, they crack open a few vintage Fleer and Score packs for the latest Padres Junk Wax Gem, finding memories far more valuable than the cards themselves. Alex’s pick of the week — a 1990 Score Bruce Hurst — may only fetch a buck, but it’s rich in stories and sentiment.

Chapters:

00:00 - Welcome to Bleav In San Diego Baseball; 01:22 - It's Free Agent SZN; 02:17 - What Was Heath Bell's Free Agent Experience Like?; 07:37 - Would Heath Have Made a Different Decision Today?; 10:41 - Mo' Money, Mo' Problems; 11:26 - Baseball Hall of Fame's "Contemporary Baseball Era Player" Ballot; 13:31 - Heath Names His Choices for the Hall; 16:40 - Alex's Picks for the Hall of Fame; 18:50 - Padres Junk Wax Gem: Bruce Hurst 1991 Score; 20:36 - Heath Rips a Vintage Pack of 1991 Fleer

Stay in the lineup — follow Bleav in San Diego Baseball on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content and follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok for more Friar Faithful fun!

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The World Series may be over, but the drama hasn’t cooled off. On this Hot Stove edition of Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak and Heath Bell relive Toronto’s heartbreak in Games 6 and 7, from the bizarre ground-rule double to Miguel Rojas’ shocking homer that flipped Game 7 on its head. Heath explains how even the smallest baserunning hesitation might have cost the Blue Jays the title, while Alex points out how the series solidified Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a superstar.

With the Dodgers claiming back-to-back titles — the first since the ’98–’00 Yankees — the duo agree this was one of the best World Series of the century. Then it’s time to turn the page: the Padres’ offseason begins. Alex and Heath walk through San Diego’s free agents and opt-outs, and weigh who they’d bring back.

Off the field, Heath reveals a surprising holiday hobby: he’s a gingerbread-house craftsman! The episode wraps with a look at the Padres’ teaser for their 2026 City Connect uniforms, possibly inspired by Día de los Muertos themes — marigolds, sugar skulls, and all.

Chapters:

00:00 - From Halloween to Hot Stove Season;
01:30 - World Series Game 6: Dead Ball on Halloween;
04:06 - World Series Game 7: Extras Haunt the Jays Again;
08:47 - Reflections on This World Series;
12:08 - Turning the Page to Padres Free Agency;
13:38 - Who Would You Want to See Back in a Padres Uniform?;
16:12 - Heath Bell, Halloween, and... Gingerbread Houses?;
19:22 - Padres Release City Connect 2.0 Teaser;

Stay in the lineup — follow Bleav in San Diego Baseball on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content and follow us on Instagram, X, and TikTok for more Friar Faithful fun!

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