Bonds....Hasty Divorce and...Quo Vadis?

[Grandstander]

The Giants timed their decision to inform Barry Bonds that they would not be seeking his services after this season so that there was very little time left to milk it in an extended farewell.

In that the Giants were not contenders this season and there hasn't been much of a reason to come see them play since Bonds broke the homerun record, it would have been a revenue boost for the club to have announced this at the start of September and conducted a month long "Goodbye Barry" promotion which would have put a few more fannies in the seats at the ballpark.

That they did not capitalize on this obvious method for enhancing attendance suggests to me that the club's attitude is spiteful. I believe that they are resentful of all the special treatment that they had to grant to Bonds over the years, resentful of how unhelpful Bonds has been in terms of polishing images and making himself more marketable, resentful of having to pay a part time player a massive full time salary and resentful of how Bonds saddled them with the steroid issue. The manifestation of this resentment is arranging his departure in such a way as to minimize the sentiment and ceremony.

They could not suddendly start treating Bonds with contempt or bashing him in the press without making themselves appear petty and stupid, so, they wanted a solution where they could finally sever their relations with Bonds without having to go through the pretense of "We loved you, Barry, how sad that you are leaving." The short term timing of the decision does help to solve that, there will be a ceremony of some sort in Wednesday's game, but that will be it. No extended farewell tour of the league or any of the other things normally associated with the departure of franchise players.


I suppose that the club has no choice but to behave reasonably well, but I wonder how they would be handling it if there were no pr considerations. I have the feeling that if it was a no holds barred situation, the club would indulge in some catharsis seeking by really letting Bonds know just how sick and tired of him they had become. One way might be to deliberately make Wednesday's ceremony a cheapjack affair, something so low rent and ho-hum that it could not be seen as anything other than a purposeful insult aimed at Bonds. If I were Peter McGowan, I think that I would get one of those three dollar "World's Greatest Dad" plastic trophys that they always sell around father's day and tape over the "Dad" with a label reading "leftfielder." After presenting Bonds with that, in my tribute speech, I'd say something like "Barry Bonds made the # 25 an unforgetable one in Giants history............and we look forward to the next player to wear that number and begin a new era of achievement and honor for it...etc."


Speculation on Bonds' future is interesting because that he will be signed by any club is not a certainty. Bonds has always made it clear that he equates money with respect and respect with money, so I don't see him agreeing to some discount contract with Kansas City. In addition, he made the statement that he was continuing his career because he was still pursuing a WS ring, so that would eliminate all the clubs which are not contenders. It is also assumed that future employment will have to be as a DH, he has slowed too much to be an adequate outfileder.

So....among AL contenders....who needs a DH like Bonds next season and which clubs could afford him?

Cleveland has Hafner, Toronto has Thomas under contract for another year, Detroit has Sheffield, Boston has Papi, the Yankees have Giambi and the Angels are nearing the point where they will need to use the DH slot for Vlad. ( He was the DH for 39 games this season.)

The Rangers might be able to swing the money, but are they contenders? The White Sox have inked their martinet style manager to a five year deal and I can't see Ozzie Guillen wanting to have some special handling package like Bonds in his clubhouse.

That pretty much leaves only the Mariners as a possible candidate. Jose Vidro was their primary DH this season and he hit fairly well, especially during their late season improvement which moved them into contention for a time.

Even if they can afford Bonds salary, clubs will also have to consider the utter absense of popularity for Bonds outside of San Francisco. And consider the effect on the clubhouse harmony that might be upset by adding Bonds and his recliner.

Given all the considerations, I think it is quite possible that this is actually it....the end of his MLB career, not just the end of his Giants career.

[jtur88]

He could be another Roger Clemens, to be signed from retiremend by an AL club whose DH gets hurt. Wait---how can a DH get hurt, unless he is Milton Bradley.

[unreal654]

I can't think of a city outside of San Fran that would welcome Bonds with open arms. I think he's done.

[Zen653]

I could see Barry Bonds on one of seven teams next year: the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees, or the Washington Nationals.

Giants: Even though they've said they're not bringing him back, what happens when all the marquee names decide not to sign with San Francisco? Do the Giants market themselves around Barry Zito, or do they kiss and make up with Bonds (as they did in spring training of 2007), and let him reach 3,000 hits as a Giant? (Especially if he lowers his asking price...)

Athletics: The A's don't have any big contract players at DH. Bonds would be a huge attendance draw. The question here is money. Unless Bonds accepts $10 million or less, there's no way Oakland signs him.

Angels: Arte Moreno has made it clear that he wants to add a big bat to help protect Vladimir Guerrero. With Garrett Anderson possibly gone after the end of the season, there could be a spot available for Bonds. Anaheim would probably be his ideal scenario because it would allow him to (a) stay in California, (b) continue to make big bucks, and (c) have an opportunity to win a World Series Championship. Unless the Angels think Bonds would be too big of a distraction, or would tarnish the image of the team, I believe this is a good fit for both parties. Barry Bonds could very well be Moreno's Plan B if Alex Rodriguez stays in New York.

Orioles: Baltimore went after Sammy Sosa to garner publicity and boost attendance. Barry Bonds would accomplish both of these objectives while simultaneously helping the team on the field. When healthy, the Orioles could have a very good pitching staff. Add Bonds to the middle of a decent lineup, and Baltimore might have something. If Peter Angelos thinks this is a good idea, no one will stop him. He's a maverick owner who has no trouble going against conventional wisdom.

Nationals: Jim Bowden has a hard-on for outfielders and Washington could use a marquee name, which Bonds certainly provides. The money could work out if it only takes a 1 year deal to nab him. If no other team expresses interest, and Washington displays a willingness to meet Bonds' price, I could see him signing there.

Yankees: New York spent most of 2007 with no established DH. Barry Bonds would add an obscene dimension to an offense that doesn't need any additional help. While Yankees fans care about their mystique, and might worry about the bad publicity that Barry Bonds would generate, it's ultimately George Steinbrenner's call. If he thinks the Yankees need another thumper, he'll get one. As with the Angels, money wouldn't be a problem, nor would competitiveness.

Blue Jays: I see Toronto as the sleeper in the Barry Bonds sweepstakes. The Blue Jays owner authorized his GM in 2005 to go ahead and increase payroll by about $20 million a year through 2008. While Frank Thomas is under contract for one more year, he can theoretically play first base a few times a week while Bonds splits time between DH and LF (he'd play LF on the road, so as to avoid the hard surface at the Rogers Centre.) Also, both players are injury-prone at this stage of their respective careers, which means that one could end up as insurance for the other. Bonds wouldn't be under intense media scrutiny playing in Canada and he wouldn't have to accept a discount in salary either. He'd also be in a situation where he could possibly win a ring. Toronto has the pitching, and it has some hitting. Bonds could be the missing piece that puts them over the top, even in a stacked AL East.

[Grandstander]

Zen653;120254]

Giants: Even though they've said they're not bringing him back, what happens when all the marquee names decide not to sign with San Francisco? Do the Giants market themselves around Barry Zito, or do they kiss and make up with Bonds (as they did in spring training of 2007), and let him reach 3,000 hits as a Giant? (Especially if he lowers his asking price...)

I thought about this, the surprise return of Bonds if the team's attendance falls off in a dramtic manner, but I really think that once the relations are severed, the Giants will be feeling well rid of Bonds and extremely reluctant to saddle themselves with him again. They will be dismantling his private section of the clubhouse when he is gone, I doubt that they would wish to have to rebuild it just to have him back as a part timer. They really do need to get started on the post Bonds era and with no All Star game or homerun record chase to tie them to the past, they are well positioned to do it now. Bonds nearly wasn't a Giant in 2007, it was only because of the record chase that they brought him back.

Athletics: The A's don't have any big contract players at DH. Bonds would be a huge attendance draw. The question here is money. Unless Bonds accepts $10 million or less, there's no way Oakland signs him.

Already on record....not interested. The A's are going to be spinning their wheels for a few seasons in anticipation of their new park in 2011. I can't see them spending the money on Bonds for 2008 because he won't be around in 2011.

Angels: Arte Moreno has made it clear that he wants to add a big bat to help protect Vladimir Guerrero. With Garrett Anderson possibly gone after the end of the season, there could be a spot available for Bonds. Anaheim would probably be his ideal scenario because it would allow him to (a) stay in California, (b) continue to make big bucks, and (c) have an opportunity to win a World Series Championship. Unless the Angels think Bonds would be too big of a distraction, or would tarnish the image of the team, I believe this is a good fit for both parties. Barry Bonds could very well be Moreno's Plan B if Alex Rodriguez stays in New York.

Possible....the stays in California angle and the contender caveat are satisfied for Bonds. The Angels are not set at DH, this season they used the slot as a means to keep Vlad's and Anderson's bats in the lineup when they were too gimpy to play the outfield.

Orioles: Baltimore went after Sammy Sosa to garner publicity and boost attendance. Barry Bonds would accomplish both of these objectives while simultaneously helping the team on the field. When healthy, the Orioles could have a very good pitching staff. Add Bonds to the middle of a decent lineup, and Baltimore might have something. If Peter Angelos thinks this is a good idea, no one will stop him. He's a maverick owner who has no trouble going against conventional wisdom.

The Oriloles were badly burned by their contract with Sosa, which followed on the heels of their being badly burned by their contract with Albert Belle. Fool me once....fool me twice.....but?

Nationals: Jim Bowden has a hard-on for outfielders and Washington could use a marquee name, which Bonds certainly provides. The money could work out if it only takes a 1 year deal to nab him. If no other team expresses interest, and Washington displays a willingness to meet Bonds' price, I could see him signing there.

I had not considered them, of course NL would mean Bonds having to play in the outfield and that will reduce his availability.

Yankees: New York spent most of 2007 with no established DH. Barry Bonds would add an obscene dimension to an offense that doesn't need any additional help. While Yankees fans care about their mystique, and might worry about the bad publicity that Barry Bonds would generate, it's ultimately George Steinbrenner's call. If he thinks the Yankees need another thumper, he'll get one. As with the Angels, money wouldn't be a problem, nor would competitiveness.

Like Oakland, they have already said...not interested. Of course they could change their minds if Steinbrenner gets to suffering from publicity deprivation and feels to need to make a news splash.

Blue Jays: I see Toronto as the sleeper in the Barry Bonds sweepstakes. The Blue Jays owner authorized his GM in 2005 to go ahead and increase payroll by about $20 million a year through 2008. While Frank Thomas is under contract for one more year, he can theoretically play first base a few times a week while Bonds splits time between DH and LF (he'd play LF on the road, so as to avoid the hard surface at the Rogers Centre.) Also, both players are injury-prone at this stage of their respective careers, which means that one could end up as insurance for the other. Bonds wouldn't be under intense media scrutiny playing in Canada and he wouldn't have to accept a discount in salary either. He'd also be in a situation where he could possibly win a ring. Toronto has the pitching, and it has some hitting. Bonds could be the missing piece that puts them over the top, even in a stacked AL East.

I think having Thomas for 2008 makes having Bonds as well very unlikely.