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LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Barry Bonds' appearance at Major League Baseball's winter meetings Wednesday caused quite a stir as speculation swirled about where he might land in 2007 to resume his chase of Hank Aaron's home run record.
The world champs, by chance?
According to a story on the San Jose Mercury News' Web site, Cardinals manager Tony La Russa approached Bonds' agent on Wednesday night and requested a meeting with the currently unemployed outfielder and owner of 734 career home runs.
"I want to talk to your guy," La Russa reportedly told Jeff Borris outside a steakhouse at the Walt Disney World resort where the meetings are being held. "Where is he? I want to talk to him."
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St. Louis general manager Walt Jocketty, asked whether he met with Bonds, shook his head, the Mercury News said. "We're trying to get our pitching in order first," was Jocketty's response.
St. Louis, then, could be the answer to the question "Which is the mystery club suddenly in the mix to sign Bonds?"
According to the newspaper, La Russa made his request with Borris in the presence of a Mercury News reporter, then the two men spoke privately for several minutes. Borris was described as "shaken" upon being asked whether Bonds had met with Cardinals officials earlier Wednesday.
"I won't confirm or deny that," Borris told the Mercury News.
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It's believed Bonds has shown no inclination to take a cut from his 2006 salary ($18 million), hasn't been especially open to tying his earnings to health or playing time, and wants a vesting option that could turn a potential deal into a two-year contract potentially worth in the neighborhood of $40 million.
The Giants, on the other hand, are believed to want to guarantee about half of what Bonds made this season, with incentives based on plate appearances that could bring him close to, or slightly below, this year's salary.
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http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2689475
Clearly we aren't going to sign Barry for that much. But if the only teams interested in him are us and the Giants, and the Giants are only willing to guarantee half of what he made this season (plus incentives) then we would have a shot.
Right now i'm more concerned about our pitching, but I have to admit that I would like seeing that name in the lineup behind Pujols. The offense would be beautiful.
I'm not holding my breath though....