Since the trade deadline passed and Jed Hoyer didn't trade Heath Bell, his story has been that the two compensation draft picks they would get if Bell didn't sign with the team was more valuable then what they could have gotten via trade.

All along Bell has said that he would give the Padres the hometown discount as long as they gave him a three year deal.

Now, Monday on XX1090, Jeff Moorad said that they wouldn't mind if Bell accepted arbitration saying, "In some ways (arbitration) is even preferable from our point of view."

Moorad went on to say, "We certainly don't mind going year-to-year, though we are willing to guarantee a couple of years with him."

Padres beat writer Dan Hayes from the North County Times, tweeted Bell's response to the potential of accepting arbitration, "I’m leaning towards it. I can’t tell you 100 percent, but why not? I’m not going to lose. There’s a lot more pros than cons."

Bell is currently making $7.5 million a year and under arbitration he would make somewhere in the range of $10 and $12 million a year.

U-T beat writer Bill Center also reported that Bell would accept arbitration if the Padres failed to offer him a multi-year contract.

Here is what Bell said to Center regarding a multi-year contract:

"I'd like to get a three-year contract with the Padres," said Bell. "But I think I'm in position to come back no matter what ... If they offered me three years at $27 million, we'd talk. If they offered me three years at $30 million, I would really have to consider it. Maybe I could get an All-Star bonus. I'd like that."

Bell's first proposal is worth $9 million a year and the second $10 million a year, both numbers less then what he could potentially make in arbitration.

There is no question that Bell wants to stay in San Diego and is more then willing to give a hometown discount, which would save the team money (something the team is keen on doing as they saved $3.1 million trading Ryan Ludwick and Mike Adams at the deadline.)

Now the question is what is the front office and Moorad thinking?

From what Moorad said above he wants to keep Bell, and is willing to keep him for a few years and has no problem going year-to-year on a contract.

How is paying a player more money then he has asked for "preferable"?

Moorad has said that they are willing to give Bell a multi-year contract, the Padres have said they are willing to let him take arbitration (which will be more money then he is asking for).

Why not give him a multi-year deal for between $9 and $10 million dollars?

It is what Bell wants, it saves the team money and Moorad has said the team wants to keep Bell.

Why isn't the deal getting done?