Heath Bell, Closer
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Heath Bell only pitched for two seasons with the Padres during the past decade (5 years in total for his career), but he deserves to be on the team because he was truly amazing in 2010 and 2011.
In both of those seasons, he made the All-Star team (also made ASG in 2009) in addition to logging over 40 saves.
In both seasons he had an RA of under 3 with a career-best 1.93 ERA in 2010.
Kirby Yates, Closer
Kirby Yates didn’t come to San Diego as a great closer. He didn’t have an above-average splitter and his slider was nothing for opposing hitters to have nightmares about.
But now former pitching coach Darren Balsley helped him transform into 2019’s most dominant reliever. In 2019, he led the league with 41 saves with a 1.19 ERA. In 2018, he did well in being the interim closer for Brad Hand after he was traded to the Cleveland Indians in return for Francisco Mejia, as he had just above a 2 ERA in over 60 innings.
Huston Street, Closer
Huston Street only pitched for three seasons with the San Diego Padres before heading to Anaheim to play with the Los Angeles Angels.
With that said, Street was phenomenal in the two years he was here. In addition to logging over 20 saves in three consecutive seasons with the Padres, he made two All-Star teams in 2012 and 2014.
One factor to why I wanted to put Street onto my All-Decade team is because of the year he had in 2014. He didn’t even pitch the whole season with the Padres in 2014, but he still was able to get 41 saves before going to the Angels in a trade before the Trade Deadline.