In this New Year’s edition of Bleav in San Diego Baseball, Alex Miniak and three-time All-Star Heath Bell ease in between the holidays with plenty of humor and perspective. Alex recaps his recent work at the NBA G League Winter Showcase in Orlando, drawing parallels between basketball lifers grinding for opportunity and baseball players who persevere through long minor-league journeys in hopes of sticking at the highest level.

The conversation then shifts to Padres news, highlighted by the re-signing of Michael King. Alex and Heath break down why the deal feels like a win-win: added stability for a rotation that needs it, flexibility for the club, and a chance for King to reestablish value after injury. They also discuss the addition of KBO infielder Sung-mun Song as a low-risk, high-upside depth move, emphasizing the Padres’ recent focus on smart value signings and building roster depth heading into Spring Training.

The episode wraps with the latest Padres Junk Wax Gem, spotlighting a 1991 Upper Deck Mark Parent card and using it as a springboard to discuss the unseen careers and lifers who help sustain the game. Alex and Heath close by sharing personal goals for the new year before sending listeners into 2026 with stories, laughs, and plenty more Padres baseball to come.

Chapters:

00:00 - Holiday Cheers and Happy New Years!;

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