Yankees sign former All-Star closer Heath Bell to minor league deal

Heath Bell has struggled since leaving the Padres in 2011. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) The Yankees have signed three-time All-Star closer Heath Bell to a minor

Heath Bell has struggled since leaving the Padres in 2011. (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

The Yankees have signed three-time All-Star closer Heath Bell to a minor league contract, manager Joe Girardi confirmed before the team's game in Oakland on Friday night.

Bell was assigned to Triple-A Scranton, according to Newsday's Erik Boland.

The Yankees' bullpen is tied for 24th in the league with a 4.20 ERA entering Friday.

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Bell was 1-1 with a 7.27 ERA in 13 appearances this season before he was released by the Rays on May 4. Tampa Bay acquired the 36-year-old from Arizona in a three-team trade in the offseason.

Bell made three straight All-Star appearances from 2009-11 for the Padres, leading the majors with 132 saves during that stretch. He is 38-32 with a 3.49 ERA in 11 big league seasons for the Mets, Padres, Marlins, Diamondbacks and Rays.

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Yankees have signed @HeathBell21 to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton.

— Erik Boland (@eboland11) June 13, 2014