Former Padres All-Star Closer Baffled by AJ Preller's Decision to Potentially Let Bob Melvin Leave for SF

The wrong choice in his mind.

Padres manager Bob Melvin received permission from the organization to interview for the vacant manager job for the division rival Giants earlier this week. 

Melvin and general manager AJ Preller already made headlines to end the regular season due to perceived dysfunction in their dynamic during the 2023 season. 

Both the Padres and Giants missed out on the playoffs and the latter chose to let go of Gabe Kapler after a second straight missed postseason. 

The current Padres' skipper could now take that job but one former Friars All-Star doesn't agree with San Diego's choice to even try letting him go. 

Why are the padres letting Bob Melvin interview for the Giants? What is AJ thinking.

— Heath Bell (@HeathBell21) October 23, 2023

Bell played five of his 11 seasons with the Padres and earned three straight All-Star nods from 2009-2011. 

In that stint, Bell was one of the best closers in the game after he racked up 40 saves in each campaign with his peak of 47 coming in 2010. 

The former reliever retired in 2014 but still resides in the city where he played his best baseball. 

It's clear that the move hasn't resonated well with the fanbase and Bell isn't the only one to voice such concerns. 

Melvin did look quite tired by the end of the season but it's understandable after several injuries and unmet expectations doomed another season of Padre baseball. 

2023 marked a regression back to the team's 2021 form after they followed an inspired postseason run in 2022 with a year barely above .500. 

Differences between the 2020 and 2022 campaigns can't be ignored either as the team is significantly better than it was even three seasons ago. 

Preller's choices continue to confuse several around the organization and one of San Diego's own isn't staying silent on the issue any longer. 

Melvin may depart in the offseason back to his Bay Area roots and another mistake could fall on Preller's shoulder should another manager leave under his watch.