Bonds to the A's?

[catman]

After losing Frank Thomas to the Jays, the A's need to find a DH. Will Bonds be their guy? Here is a story: http://sports.aol.com/mlb/story/_a/as-begin-pursuit-of-bonds-to-replace/20061117175709990001?cid=561
Comments?

[suedon1970]

Probably a good fit for him; he can stay in the SF area & he can also be a DH so he can avoid playing LF. The question is how much the A's would be willing to pay him........

[catman]

Will his ego allow him to sign a low $$$ ($5M/season or so) contract with easily reached incentives in it? Any way you look at it, the A's are going to have to spend more money for a less-productive DH than they had last season.

[doublee]

I doubt it. The story his agent was floating was that he was looking for something in the neighborhood of $14 mil for next year. But, given that Thomas only got 9 per year from Toronto to DH I doubt anyone is going to be willing to go any higher than that given that Thomas arguably had the better season last year.

[catman]

I agree with that, Doublee. Bonds is on the downhill slide and will be fortunate to get that big a contract from anyone, especially with his injury issues.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I agree with that, Doublee. Bonds is on the downhill slide and will be fortunate to get that big a contract from anyone, especially with his injury issues.

This begs the question of how much will his past injuries plague him when he's no longer required to play defense.


Tim.

[doublee]

Depends on where he signs really. The climate and whether or not he is playing on turf or grass will make a difference on how well his knees hold up next year.

[The Irish]

He could go to the A's but injuries are going to be a big issue, and every team wants him to break the Home Run Record in their park. Although it will be a modern day of infamy if he does. I don't think he would lower himself to under 10 mil/ year.

[DETMURDS]

Bonds has to go to the American League for injury prevention, .....I am one of few who don't hate him, and really wouldn't mind seeing him in Detroit? (I'm a Detroiter in Seattle) But he would probably ruin the chemistry for the Tigers,...so I guess not. Another thought is,...the Angles? I say that because Southern Cal is mild (not too humid, or ever too cold)?

[coachJ]

Theres no way he will go to Detroit. Not after they traded for Sheffield, they really have no room for Sheff, Maggs, and Bonds. But i do agree that Bonds has to go to the AL because there is no way he plays 162 games for an NL team, and i doubt he even plays 162 at DH for an AL team, but he would be best as a DH where he doesnt have to run out in the field.

[doublee]

Yeah, Detroit is not an option, as coachJ points out, since they just traded for Gary Sheffield who is likely to get the bulk of ABs at the DH slot next year.

[DETMURDS]

Oh, I agree, was just saying it would be cool basically because I am pulling for him to break the record, and for me there would be no better way than with him wearing an old english D on his chest. Being realistic, I think he will stay on the west coast as well.

[catman]

I could see him in LA, with the Angels, or in Oakland or Seattle, as all 3 have need for a full-time DH next season. LA offers him a very good chance to get to another World Series, as does Oakland (he wouldn't need to move from his home in the bay area if he signs there), but Seattle would be a long-shot.

[DETMURDS]

I could see him in LA, with the Angels, or in Oakland or Seattle, as all 3 have need for a full-time DH next season. LA offers him a very good chance to get to another World Series, as does Oakland (he wouldn't need to move from his home in the bay area if he signs there), but Seattle would be a long-shot.


It will never happen in Seattle,..I'd see Griffey coming back here before Bonds ever coming here. Ownership is only happy with making a profit, not producing a winner. Then again, Bonds really hasn't won a WS either! A lot of Mariner sluggers of the past hate the stadium, one being A-Rod because of not being HR freindly. However, I'd love for them to prove me wrong just to get a chance on a regular basis to see BB hit.

[doublee]

I guess that is why they pissed away all that cash on Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre then....

[DETMURDS]

I guess that is why they pissed away all that cash on Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre then....

I live here, and I will tell you that Seattle was spoiled by Griffey, who hit over 50 home runs a season on several occasions, and A-Rod is on pace to break Aaron's record as well. Seattle was spoiled by that. Sexson hit 45 home runs in Milwaukee, then dropped to 34 in a M's uniform, he slumped at times a lot too. As for Beltre, wow, what a drop in production he hit 48 home runs as a Dodger 3 seasons ago, and came to Seattle and hit only 19, and then just 25 last season! Nobody mentions those 2 players in this city ever really.

You are right,...they pissed that cash away!

[doublee]

There is a reason why nobody would give Sexson anything close to what the M's gave him. He is damaged goods and has never been anything more than swing-for-the-fences type of hitter.

[bama4256]

I believe the Giants will re-sign him He will help sell tickets as he gets closer to 755 homeruns.

[doublee]

It is beginning to sound like the A's are close to landing Piazza to DH for them next year anyway.

[catman]

Piazza would be a better fit in Oakland than Bonds would IMO. He can play catcher in a pinch, giving Kendall a day off now and then.

[doublee]

He could also play some first if they needed him to as well and they can probably sign him for far less than what Bonds is looking for.

[catman]

right. He has no "record" to play for next season. Pitchers will throw him strikes.
He is also a fairly smart base-runner. Sure he'll clog them up, but he seldom gets thrown out making a dumb base-running move.
I think, with Dan Johnson as the backup, the A's are OK at 1B.

[suedon1970]

I was listening to Mike & Mike this morning and they said that Barry Bonds showed up at the winter meetings in Orlando yesterday. Looks like he is shopping himself around...........

[boston_aloha]

I'm listening to them right now Sue... did you hear about what he wants? Like $13m a year and somewhere up to like $40m for 2 years with all the incentives / package deals? Crazy!!!

[suedon1970]

I'm listening to them right now Sue... did you hear about what he wants? Like $13m a year and somewhere up to like $40m for 2 years with all the incentives / package deals? Crazy!!!

That's nuts! I would be VERY surprised if any team would give him a 2-year deal for that much $$$.

[boston_aloha]

Oh yeah... no way its happening. I think he's in for a reality check this season. The reason he showed up in FL is (I guess) things aren;t going smoothly with the Giants as far a contract talk. I guess the A's are interested but they won't give him the $$ he wants.... A's are prob looking for another Frank Thomas type deal and NO WAY Bonds would do anything CLOSE to that!

[bama4256]

I think Bonds and O.J. Simpson should be roommate-they really do have a lot in common. Bonds did his best to murder the good name of major league baseball.

[catman]

Bonds is now facing the fact that no one wants to pay him what he thinks he deserves. The Giants have told him to take a hike, and the A's have offered him a small based, incentive laden contract that he feels is beneath his dignity.
Sorry Barry, but it may be time to give it up and go back to being surly at home.

[bama4256]

Seriously I think his production would be way down this season. No facts for that reason, but age and most fans detest him.

[coachJ]

From the "buzz" thing ive been reading on ESPN, not many teams are interested in Bonds. They have a little interest but it seems that after that initial contact they kind of shy away is how ESPN keeps reporting the story.

As a GM, I dont think id sign Bonds for anything. Not only do you have to deal with Bonds and the possible breaking of Aaron's record, but you have all the media circus to deal with as well. It would be a HUGE distraction to any team, except for the Giants which are used to it. Bonds hurt his market value, and i think he either plays for a cheap contract, or he doesnt play at all.

[catman]

As I understand it, the A's have filled their DH position without signing Bonds. Mike Piazza will be their guy for the next season.

[DETMURDS]

I hope somebody signs him,...I do want him to break Hank's record.

[catman]

The only way Bonds plays again is if he realizes that he won't get $10M to play 120 games. About $5M is the most I'd offer him, and that would be with a couple of the incentives triggered. Sure I'd have more incentives in the contract, but it would be a relatively low base ($4M or so).

[doublee]

I find it hilarious how is agent claims he would have a contract tomorrow if he snapped his fingers. I also read where he is wanting $18 mil for next year. :lol:

I think the $13 mil figure you guys heard about is probably what the Giants are offering as I heard on the radio earlier that it is rumored that the Giants and Bonds are about $5 mil apart.

[DETMURDS]

Barry Bonds and the Giants agreed on a one-year, $16M deal.

[catman]

Talk about over-paying.......

[doublee]

Seriously didn't the Giants realize that nobody else in their right minds were going to give Bonds that much cash? I am sure that is why the Cards were only interested in him until they actually talked to him and found out he was looking for up to $18 million.

[DETMURDS]

Also, maybe the SF front office figures they won't win a World Series, so why not have a new all time home run king crowned instead?

[doublee]

Yeah, but the point is they could have gotten for several million less seeing as it is highly doubtful he had any other substantial offers on the table.

[catman]

I agree, doublee. The Giants over-paid for a marginal player.