Does anyone want Barry Bonds?

News Type: Event — Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:36 AM EDT

sports, mlb, baseball, san-francisco, bonds, barry-bonds, oakland

schnoo

Live Poll

Who will Barry Bonds play for next year?

Oakland A s
33%
New York Yankees
0%
Boston Red Sox
8%
Detroit Tigers
0%
Seattle Mariners
8%
Anaheim Angels
25%
Other AL team (please specify)
0%
Other NL team (please specify)
8%
No one will want him, he won t play
8%
He ll want too much, he won t play
8%

Total Votes: 12

One more uni to add.

The Giants, not unexpectedly, have given Barry the big buh-bye. He wants to play at least another year...to get his 3000th hit and, as he claims, to have a chance at a ring.

But how much interest will there be in a 43 year-old Bonds, especially if he demands the big bucks.... with the steroid issue still swirling about him...and his arrogant attitude still in tow.

Bonds is revered in San Francisco. But that's the only city in which this is the case. Barry's pretty much a pariah elsewhere.

He still has plenty of value as a DH somewhere. But Barry's been a National League guy his entire career and making the jump to the AL at 43 would be no mean feat.

It will probably come down to some kind of mix of a team's need, Barry's need to play and how much both sides are willing to compromise to get another year out of the home-run leader. And also how much a team is willing to put up with all the negatives, tangible and intangible, that Barry brings to the park.

The natural landing place for Bonds, of course, would be the Oakland A's. His adoring Bay fans could still watch him in action just by taking the shuttle. It might turn out to be a big seat-filler for the A's.

The A's have gotten decent production out of the DH slot this year with Piazza and Jack Cust, but no one is a bigger (heh) presence in the lineup than Bonds. Even at his advanced playing age, he a formidable force to reckon with...as his slugging percentage, OBP, and intentional walk totals continue to testify.

Of course, it would be a great show if Bonds went to the Sox or the Yanks, but I don't see much chance of that happening. (If Barry were younger, George would want him.) And Barry has too much pride to play for the perpetual losers such as the Royals. Unless perhaps that is the sole remaining option for him to continue his career.

But it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Where he goes, what the deal is, how much he signs for, for how long, etc.

One thing's for sure. Somebody's gonna get a big can of worms with that guy.

6 Votes
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1.5

{"commentId":1051016,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

schnoo

Personally, I think he play even if his best offer is fitty cent.

{"commentId":1051016,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"schnoo"}

1 vote

#1 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:37 AM EDT

{"commentId":1051320,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

I think his best option is the Oakland A's if he's willing to play for only $10 million. They can basically replace Mike Pizza with him, which is a huge upgrade. The move makes a ton of sense, the A's are one of the teams that can truly appreciate his OBP, and with how anemic their lineup is, he'd become their biggest power hitter as well.

They also wouldn't have to get rid of Jack Cust for him either. Bonds really is only ever so slightly below average in left field, where he could play 4 games per week, dh two and take one off.

Being right across the Bay from his fans wouldn't hurt either.

Though I also like the idea of San Diego as an option as well. Again, he really isn't as bad as many make him out to be in the field, and he could fit in at left for them. He'd bring them a much needed dose of OBP, as well as much needed power. He'd also get to stay on the West Coast.

I don't see the Yanks or Red Sox getting into him because they both already have huge contracts at left and dh. Detroit already has Gery Sheffield, and the Mariners have a very family friendly image and I don't see him and Ichiro on the same team. The Angels have also been long rumored as a good fit, but they need to keep DH open for Vlad and left open for Garret Anderson.

I can see Texas making a run at him, but would he want to play both in Texas and for a team with no chance of winning? The only way they are players is if they offer him $18 million or so and everyone else offers $10ish. I can see the Orioles make an offer, Peter Angelos loves big names and he can easily fit in in left or dh there.

{"commentId":1051320,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

1 vote

#2 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:40 AM EDT

{"commentId":1051365,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

schnoo

You are correct about his fielding. He just looks sub-par because we remember the younger Barry. But he is slow to the ball and occasionally looks befuddled by something over his head (don't we all, heh).

I haven't heard any talk of someone trying him at first. That's the usual spot for DHers who also sometimes play the field.

The Orioles could come up with big dough, but I can't see Barry wanting to play there. I think he'll accept smaller money to play on a winning team.

{"commentId":1051365,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"schnoo"}

1 vote

#3 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 11:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":1051587,"authorDomain":"geejay"}

TheJonesGirl

Bonds is revered in San Francisco.

Not by all of us SF'ers.

Please, take him away--and don't pollute the A's with him.

{"commentId":1051587,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"geejay"}

2 votes

#4 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 1:00 PM EDT

{"commentId":1051761,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

schnoo

I hate to be the one to tell you, that's probably where he gonna end up.

{"commentId":1051761,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"schnoo"}

2 votes

#4.1 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:13 PM EDT

{"commentId":1051784,"authorDomain":"geejay"}

TheJonesGirl

NONONONONONONONONONO!

{"commentId":1051784,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"geejay"}

1 vote

#4.2 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:19 PM EDT

{"commentId":1051787,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

schnoo

As Adam said, and I agree, it makes the most sense to all concerned. Except a few disgruntled Bay-area fans, of course.

;^)

{"commentId":1051787,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"schnoo"}

2 votes

#5 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:21 PM EDT

{"commentId":1051840,"authorDomain":"geejay"}

TheJonesGirl

We are people, too!

{"commentId":1051840,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"geejay"}

1 vote

#5.1 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":1051912,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

schnoo

Yes, but as Leona said, just "little" people. And since you're not a paying customer, well......

{"commentId":1051912,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"schnoo"}

2 votes

#6 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 3:04 PM EDT

{"commentId":1052190,"authorDomain":"geejay"}

TheJonesGirl

am not! I'm 5'2" !

{"commentId":1052190,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"geejay"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:30 PM EDT

{"commentId":1052259,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

schnoo

Hmm. My mom's 5-2 and I would call her Ol' Shorty, if I could get away with it.

{"commentId":1052259,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"schnoo"}

2 votes

#7 - Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:56 PM EDT

{"commentId":1056517,"authorDomain":"jmack"}

jmack02

You're right, schnoo, about his popularity outside of SF: he has none. Especially here in the midwest, there is a lot of disdain for him. The A's would be a good fit, but personally, I think he should just retire and end all the controversy.

{"commentId":1056517,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"jmack"}

1 vote

#8 - Thu Sep 27, 2007 4:10 AM EDT

{"commentId":1056908,"authorDomain":"schnoo"}

schnoo

Barry has replaced 756 with a new number: 3000, as in hits. He knows that with that number, he's a lock for all-time baseball immortality, not matter what happens to his home run number down the road.

{"commentId":1056908,"threadId":"154433","contentId":"983631","authorDomain":"schnoo"}

1 vote

#9 - Thu Sep 27, 2007 9:51 AM EDT

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"154433","isPrivate":false}

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