As a closer with the San Diego Padres from 2009 to 2011, Bell was a three-time All-Star and twice won the Rolaids Relief Man Award.

A free agent after the 2011 season, he signed with the Miami Marlins, and later played with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Rays.

[2][3] In 1997, Bell made two appearances in the National Baseball Congress World Series while playing for the summer league El Dorado Broncos.

[1] He made his major league debut on August 24, 2004, pitching two scoreless innings with three strikeouts against the San Diego Padres.

Bell said coaches in the Mets' minor leagues told him his best opportunity to succeed was to leave the organization as other people did not believe in him.

[5] He was part of the Padres bullpen, where he replaced Scott Linebrink as the 8th inning setup man before Trevor Hoffman closed games.

[9] In 2009, Bell received the Delivery Man of the Month Award in April after converting all eight of his save opportunities in 8+2⁄3 scoreless innings of work while striking out nine batters.

[12][13][14] Bell was the highest paid Padres player in 2011 at $7.5 million salary and would be eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

[16] Bell blew his next save opportunity, a 3–0 lead, after he opened the ninth inning walking the first two batters, and third baseman Chase Headley made a two-out, two-run throwing error to tie the game.

[7][19][20] With the team 12 games under .500 coming out of the All-Star break, general manager Jed Hoyer said the Padres would pursue a long-term contract with Bell if they did not get a desirable trade offer for him.

[29][30] He was temporarily demoted from the closer role in May after beginning the 2012 season blowing four of his first seven save opportunities with an 0–3 record and an 11.42 ERA in 11 games.

[31] On May 11, 2012, Marlins manager Ozzie Guillén placed Bell back to the closer role,[32] and his ERA dropped below 10.00 later that month.

[33][34] He was again demoted after the All-Star break, when he was 2–5 with a 6.75 ERA and six blown saves in 25 opportunities,[35] and Steve Cishek assumed the closer role.

[42][43] On December 3, 2013, Bell was traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-team deal also involving the Cincinnati Reds.

[52] Bell holds the National League record for consecutive errorless games as a pitcher, 549, which he set while playing for multiple teams during 2004–2013.

[53] In 628.2 innings over 590 appearances, Bell committed only one error in 124 total chances, recording a .992 fielding percentage, 33 points higher than the league average at his position.

[58] Bell joined the Hope For Leadership Foundation, a Christian-based movement that promotes sports and civic programs for inner-city kids.

He participated in a first-person story with Athletes For God,[59] telling the role his faith played in his journey through the minors and major leagues.