Where Will Bonds End Up? (Should the Cubs Be Interested?)

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

What if Bonds is hurt for most of the year and Hendry makes a mistake and depends on him too much? I would like a healthy impact hitter if I'm depending on him for my job on it like Hendry is.

 

I think Murton minimizes the risk. When Bonds is out, Murton starts. The risk is minimized somewhat.

 

Furthemore, if everyone is low-balling Bonds, I give him this deal to think about.

 

6 million base.

1 million bonus if he plays 85 games.

1 million bonus if he plays 100 games.

1 million bonus if he plays 125 games.

1 million bonus if he plays 140 games.

2 million if he plays 155 games.

 

Bonds is only guaranteed 6 million, but he plays a full season (he won't) he can make 12 million.

 

I would have shifted Murton over to right and Jones to center unless you have another CF in mind, like Soriano or Drew perhaps?

 

I'd certainly like to add another bad, so I might look to do that in center. Shifting Murton to right is an option with Jones going to center.

 

I might would be willing to sign a Kenny Lofton type for CF as well, or even let Pie play CF and go after Ray Durham for second.

 

Probably I'd look at Cameron for CF since I'd need defense there with Bonds in left. Murton gets any start in left that Bonds doesn't get and gets starts agaisnt lefties for Jones in right. It's not the ideal situation for Murton, but he's young and cheap and only blocked for one year.

 

A middle of the order of Lee, Bonds, and Ramirez would be potent. It would be better than what St. Louis had when they put out Pujols, Edmonds, and Rolen a few years back when all three were more productive than they are now.

[baseball7897]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

[Sammy Sofa]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

As opposed to most of the alternatives out there? Probably. But injuries and questionalbe history and all, Bonds does more for this team offensively than Murton possibly could at this point. And Murton would still get plenty of playing time with Bonds in LF.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Not if we could get Bonds for a reasonable price. I like Murton as much as anyone. I was one of his fans when he was plying his trade in AA. Djaxxfan can attest to that. However, Bonds had an OBP over 400 last year. His OPS was over 1000. If you can get that for the middle of the order, Murton can be a cheap bench/platoon option for one year.

 

Replace Murton with Carlos Lee? No.

 

Barry Bonds? Hell yeah!

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I wonder if Bonds ever took steroids.

[Soul]

Realizing Sammy was a steroid cheat was bad enough, and with him it wasn't even proven.

 

Signing a proven roid pumper like Bonds is out of the question. There's such a thing as dignity, you know.

[Rob]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Given most of the options talked about so far this offseason, I'd be inclined to agree. But there are certainly a few people that could be available for the right price that I'd rather have patrolling left.

 

Miguel Cabrera

Manny Ramirez

Adam Dunn

Pat Burrell

 

and maybe Barry Bonds would come in #5 on that list. That's more of an economics question than a baseball one. Like it or not, all five of those guys are better ballplayers than Murton right now.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Given most of the options talked about so far this offseason, I'd be inclined to agree. But there are certainly a few people that could be available for the right price that I'd rather have patrolling left.

 

Miguel Cabrera

Manny Ramirez

Adam Dunn

Pat Burrell

 

and maybe Barry Bonds would come in #5 on that list. That's more of an economics question than a baseball one. Like it or not, all five of those guys are better ballplayers than Murton right now.

 

Other than Burrell, all of those have high costs in prospects. Bonds only costs dollars and likely would be cheaper than most on that list.

[Rob]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Given most of the options talked about so far this offseason, I'd be inclined to agree. But there are certainly a few people that could be available for the right price that I'd rather have patrolling left.

 

Miguel Cabrera

Manny Ramirez

Adam Dunn

Pat Burrell

 

and maybe Barry Bonds would come in #5 on that list. That's more of an economics question than a baseball one. Like it or not, all five of those guys are better ballplayers than Murton right now.

 

Other than Burrell, all of those have high costs in prospects. Bonds only costs dollars and likely would be cheaper than most on that list.

 

You'd really rather have Barry for a couple years than Miggy?

 

Miggy's worth the difference between costs and prospects.

 

At any rate, I have a hard time believing the Reds are looking for too much for Dunn, either. And it might even allow us to unload some of these crappy relief pitcher contracts.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Given most of the options talked about so far this offseason, I'd be inclined to agree. But there are certainly a few people that could be available for the right price that I'd rather have patrolling left.

 

Miguel Cabrera

Manny Ramirez

Adam Dunn

Pat Burrell

 

and maybe Barry Bonds would come in #5 on that list. That's more of an economics question than a baseball one. Like it or not, all five of those guys are better ballplayers than Murton right now.

 

Other than Burrell, all of those have high costs in prospects. Bonds only costs dollars and likely would be cheaper than most on that list.

 

You'd really rather have Barry for a couple years than Miggy?

 

Miggy's worth the difference between costs and prospects.

 

At any rate, I have a hard time believing the Reds are looking for too much for Dunn, either. And it might even allow us to unload some of these crappy relief pitcher contracts.

 

No, I'd rather have Miggy, but one still needs to consider the cost.

 

I'd like Dunn too. I think that is well-known as well. I don't think the Reds will give him away though.

 

My point is that Bonds is only going to cost cash in a one-year commitment. Furthermore, if the rumors are correct, he won't cost nearly as much as he should. Bonds for 7-9 million is a bargain given his production.

 

I don't think it should be dismissed.

[Sammy Sofa]

Realizing Sammy was a steroid cheat was bad enough, and with him it wasn't even proven.

 

Signing a proven roid pumper like Bonds is out of the question. There's such a thing as dignity, you know.

 

Diginty?

 

We're Cubs fans. Dignity hasn't done squat for us lately...or, for that matter, ever.

[rocket]

i can't believe some cubs fans are so picky about what players are on a cubs championship team.

 

beggers can't be choosers

[Rob]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Given most of the options talked about so far this offseason, I'd be inclined to agree. But there are certainly a few people that could be available for the right price that I'd rather have patrolling left.

 

Miguel Cabrera

Manny Ramirez

Adam Dunn

Pat Burrell

 

and maybe Barry Bonds would come in #5 on that list. That's more of an economics question than a baseball one. Like it or not, all five of those guys are better ballplayers than Murton right now.

 

Other than Burrell, all of those have high costs in prospects. Bonds only costs dollars and likely would be cheaper than most on that list.

 

You'd really rather have Barry for a couple years than Miggy?

 

Miggy's worth the difference between costs and prospects.

 

At any rate, I have a hard time believing the Reds are looking for too much for Dunn, either. And it might even allow us to unload some of these crappy relief pitcher contracts.

 

No, I'd rather have Miggy, but one still needs to consider the cost.

 

I'd like Dunn too. I think that is well-known as well. I don't think the Reds will give him away though.

 

My point is that Bonds is only going to cost cash in a one-year commitment. Furthermore, if the rumors are correct, he won't cost nearly as much as he should. Bonds for 7-9 million is a bargain given his production.

 

I don't think it should be dismissed.

 

The question is, does he really only cost 7-9 million?

 

I'm under the impression the bad publicity the Cubs could get as a result of signing Bonds might result in such a badly decreased consumer identity that it ends up costing the Cubs a lot of money down the road.

 

I guess what I'm saying is that signing Barry can't be a priority. If he's the last piece that turns this into a competitive team, I'd be all about it... but if we win 65 games next year and he takes the home run record with a Cubs jersey on, the fans will immediately see and think that he was merely a publicity stunt... and a horrible one at that.

 

But if our infield is Barrett, Lee, Durham, ARod, and Aramis... yeah, I'd be all about it.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Given most of the options talked about so far this offseason, I'd be inclined to agree. But there are certainly a few people that could be available for the right price that I'd rather have patrolling left.

 

Miguel Cabrera

Manny Ramirez

Adam Dunn

Pat Burrell

 

and maybe Barry Bonds would come in #5 on that list. That's more of an economics question than a baseball one. Like it or not, all five of those guys are better ballplayers than Murton right now.

 

Other than Burrell, all of those have high costs in prospects. Bonds only costs dollars and likely would be cheaper than most on that list.

 

You'd really rather have Barry for a couple years than Miggy?

 

Miggy's worth the difference between costs and prospects.

 

At any rate, I have a hard time believing the Reds are looking for too much for Dunn, either. And it might even allow us to unload some of these crappy relief pitcher contracts.

 

No, I'd rather have Miggy, but one still needs to consider the cost.

 

I'd like Dunn too. I think that is well-known as well. I don't think the Reds will give him away though.

 

My point is that Bonds is only going to cost cash in a one-year commitment. Furthermore, if the rumors are correct, he won't cost nearly as much as he should. Bonds for 7-9 million is a bargain given his production.

 

I don't think it should be dismissed.

 

The question is, does he really only cost 7-9 million?

 

I'm under the impression the bad publicity the Cubs could get as a result of signing Bonds might result in such a badly decreased consumer identity that it ends up costing the Cubs a lot of money down the road.

 

I guess what I'm saying is that signing Barry can't be a priority. If he's the last piece that turns this into a competitive team, I'd be all about it... but if we win 65 games next year and he takes the home run record with a Cubs jersey on, the fans will immediately see and think that he was merely a publicity stunt... and a horrible one at that.

 

But if our infield is Barrett, Lee, Durham, ARod, and Aramis... yeah, I'd be all about it.

 

You're right. It may cost more than that. I'd probably set a ceiling around 10 million. If I could get him under that, yes...if more, no.

[VanceJergins]

i can't believe some cubs fans are so picky about what players are on a cubs championship team.

 

beggers can't be choosers

 

I know I'm the minority but I kind of have the mindset that since we've waited this long, I'd rather do it right. If Bonds led us to a championship I wouldnt enjoy it nearly as much. If we had a 1/5 chance with Bonds and a 1/10 chance with Murton, I'd go with Murton. I've spend many hours day-dreaming about the Cubs celebrating on the field after winning the World Series and there's something not right about Bonds being in that dream.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I don't think I'd enjoy a championship any less with Bonds. In fact, I might even buy a pinstriped jersey with Bonds on the back just to celebrate the occasion.

[wastra]

The thought of Bonds breaking Aaron's record in a Cub uniform is appalling to me. That epic travesty of baseball justice needs no place in chicago's north side.

 

The last thing Chicago needs in a quest for the World Series is the distractions that follow Barry Bonds wherever he goes.

[Wheelimus]

If it's the same kind of distraction that took the Giants to the postseason four times between 97 and '03, I'll take it...

[soccer10k]

Murton should be the guy playing LF next year.

 

Not if we could get Bonds for a reasonable price. I like Murton as much as anyone. I was one of his fans when he was plying his trade in AA. Djaxxfan can attest to that. However, Bonds had an OBP over 400 last year. His OPS was over 1000. If you can get that for the middle of the order, Murton can be a cheap bench/platoon option for one year.

 

Replace Murton with Carlos Lee? No.

 

Barry Bonds? Hell yeah!

 

Sorry to nitpick but Bonds' OPS was .999 last year. It was the first time since 1991 that his OPS was under 1.000. But I understand your point.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

According to this, Bonds is drawing some interest and his price may be above what I think the Cubs should pay.

 

One Giants employee said Bonds told him he wants $14 million for 2007, which sounds way out of line with what the team has suggested it will pay.

 

 

The Orioles and Rangers could have interest.

 

An American League team is on record saying it might look into Bonds. Jim Duquette, the Orioles' vice president of baseball operations, told the Boston Globe his team would have to "seriously consider" Bonds because "we could surely use a power bat.

 

"Obviously, there are many factors we'd have to consider, including contract. But I would think if Barry were out there, there would be other American League teams interested, considering what he could do as a DH, preserving his body, and the fact you'd be getting a player who is about to break the home run record."

 

One of those teams could be Texas. Its owner is not risk-averse (Alex Rodriguez, $252 million), and toward the end of the regular season, a Rangers employee was said to be asking Giants folks about Bonds as a teammate.

 

[Sammy Sofa]

$14 million?

 

Seeyuh, Barry. I wouldn't pay more than $9 million plus incentives, and even that is pushing it.

[Cubfanintheknow]

I don't want Barry Bonds. No way! No how!

 

I want the Cubs to win a World Series title just as much as the next guy. But I also want a team I can root for. I want good players with at least decent character. They don't have to be "lovable". But they also shouldn't be steroid-bloated cheaters who can't play defense and put aside the greater good of their team for their own personal gain.

 

I don't want this guy for personal reasons, too. I have a nine year old who absolutely loves baseball. Reads about it all the time. Watches Sportscenter on a daily basis. And loves the Cubs almost as much as I do. I've had discussions with him about Bonds and the steroid allegations and how it's very likely the guy has cheated his way past Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list. I've talked to him about the dangers of doing drugs, including performance-enhancing drugs like steroids. The very, very last thing I want to do is to teach my son the hypocracy of now rooting for such a shameful character because now he's wearing a Cubs' uniform.

 

Sorry to all of you who want Barry Bonds. But I don't want the Cubs selling their souls to a self-serving jerk like Bonds.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't want Barry Bonds. No way! No how!

 

I want the Cubs to win a World Series title just as much as the next guy. But I also want a team I can root for. I want good players with at least decent character. They don't have to be "lovable". But they also shouldn't be steroid-bloated cheaters who can't play defense and put aside the greater good of their team for their own personal gain.

 

I don't want this guy for personal reasons, too. I have a nine year old who absolutely loves baseball. Reads about it all the time. Watches Sportscenter on a daily basis. And loves the Cubs almost as much as I do. I've had discussions with him about Bonds and the steroid allegations and how it's very likely the guy has cheated his way past Babe Ruth on the all-time home run list. I've talked to him about the dangers of doing drugs, including performance-enhancing drugs like steroids. The very, very last thing I want to do is to teach my son the hypocracy of now rooting for such a shameful character because now he's wearing a Cubs' uniform.

 

Sorry to all of you who want Barry Bonds. But I don't want the Cubs selling their souls to a self-serving jerk like Bonds.

 

So what do you tell your son about Sosa?

[Cubfanintheknow]

So what do you tell your son about Sosa?

 

Sammy Sosa was much trickier. Much, much trickier.

 

My son was only seven when the Cubs traded him away. I don't remember exactly what I said to him. I just remember it was very hard explaining it all to a seven year old boy who loved Sammy Sosa and couldn't understand why the Cubs would get rid of such a great player.

 

My son was still a couple months away from turning eight when Congress held its hearing on steroids. Again, It was very difficult explaining this to a seven year old child. But I tried my best to explain to him that some people think Sosa took drugs and cheated to be a better baseball player. I told him it was probably true but didn't know for sure. And I told him it made me pretty sad that a Cub player that I cheered for would be involved in something like this. There was probably already a little hypocracy on my part because Sosa's alleged steroid use was something I suspected, but nothing was proven and he was a Cub so he got a free pass.

 

Ironically, my son just asked a couple days ago if Sammy Sosa could still play. I didn't get into the specifics of steroids, only telling him that he could still play if a team offerred him a contract. But no one has done so because he hasn't played in a year, probably can't play defense if his life depended on it and because of the steroid allegations, no team wants to take a chance with him.

[Soul]

i can't believe some cubs fans are so picky about what players are on a cubs championship team.

 

beggers can't be choosers

 

Not "so" picky. Just a little bit.

 

He's not all that great anymore anyway. All he's doing is limping to the finish line to pass the true HR King.