Let's Think Out of the Box #1,482

[Mephistopheles]

Barry Bonds....free agent. Cubs....in need of a big bat from the left side. Could Soriano play RF if asked? Could Lee play RF if asked? It's something that should be considered if there are funds. Bonds is what? 2nd in the league in VORP and first in EqA, iirc?

[cbbryan]

If the NL adds the DH in the offseason, then I could see the Cubs talking to Bonds. If not, I don't see him patroling an OF spot in the NL.

[Flames24Rulz]

I see him going to Oakland or Texas.

[soccer10k]

Even though I hate the guy, it would be amazing to have a bat like that in the lineup.

[Omar]

Could Lee play RF if asked?

 

That's stupid. Also,

 

WHAT THE HELL?

[wvcbxl]

When talking about the Cubs' management possibly making decisions like this one, the following Terry Pratchett quote applies IMHO:

"I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it."

[RynoRules]

Could Lee play RF if asked?

 

That's stupid. Also,

 

WHAT THE HELL?

 

Omar is a special person

[fiver]

Obviously, Bonds is still valuable as hitter. Does anyone want to debate that? LF and 1B are the easiest positions to play, so he will be playing one of the two if he signs with a National League team. I agree that he's likely to sign with an AL team, but I don't see why some believe the original post was so very outlandish.

 

edit - yes, Soriano could play RF. Without seeing Lee out there, I have no idea whether moving him to RF is a viable option. The former is more likely to happen.

[Banedon]

I understand the desire for Bonds, but I really don't want to see him in the field in any capacity. Plus I'm not interested in all the drama that goes along with him. I don't see that being the way a new owner is going to want to spend his first year of ownership either.

 

If I was a betting man, I'd put money down that the only changes we'll see in the offseason, are going to be young guys like Soto and Hart contributing significantly, or trading away a few contracts like Jones. I think any new owner is going to feel like they need to "clean up" the payroll. Signing Bonds isn't a way to do that.

[hawkeyecub]

Obviously, Bonds is still valuable as hitter. Does anyone want to debate that? LF and 1B are the easiest positions to play, so he will be playing one of the two if he signs with a National League team

 

Yeah and he's horrible in LF now. Considering how stiff and immobile he is now, plus the fact that he hasn't played 1st, he would be a disaster there also.

[Sammy Sofa]

Obviously, Bonds is still valuable as hitter. Does anyone want to debate that? LF and 1B are the easiest positions to play, so he will be playing one of the two if he signs with a National League team

 

Yeah and he's horrible in LF now. Considering how stiff and immobile he is now, plus the fact that he hasn't played 1st, he would be a disaster there also.

 

Anything to back up that he's actually "horrible" out there?

 

I know it's not realistic and this organization would never consider it, nor does he really fit, but Bonds' bat in this lineup, even just for one season, would be amazing.

[rawaction]

2 things I don't understand.

 

1. Why are people even remotely concerned about Bonds' defense? If there was ever a case of offense far outweighing any defensive liabilities, Bonds is clearly it. Even at 44, he would be a lock for a .975 OPS, and that would be his lowest in about 15 years.

 

2. Where are the Cubs getting the near $15-18M next year it would take to sign Bonds?

 

It's not a bad idea. I could care less about about the black cloud that follows him. He would help the Cubs win games. But the Cubs probably do. The Cubs probably care about his defense. They probably care about his age. They probably care about his salary, especially when paired with what will already be a 110M payroll. There have been 0 signs pointing to the Cubs increasing payroll by that much.

[BigbadB]

I don't see Bonds getting 15m. He's a part time player now and only continuing to play to pad his individual achievements.

[jjgman21]

Bonds has said that if he's not a Giant, he's not playing left field, so I don't know why this is even a point of discussion.

 

 

as for moving Soriano to right, I'm all for it. better yet, move him back to second.

[rawaction]

I don't see Bonds getting 15m. He's a part time player now and only continuing to play to pad his individual achievements.

 

I don't see why not. He got that this year. Clemens is doing the exact same thing and he got 20+.

[Productive Outs]

I don't see Bonds getting 15m. He's a part time player now and only continuing to play to pad his individual achievements.

 

yes, he is so selfish. man, i can't believe he wants to achieve more milestones as a player. who on earth would want to play baseball at age 44 for 10 million a year? i know i wouldn't.

[CubColtPacer]

I don't see Bonds getting 15m. He's a part time player now and only continuing to play to pad his individual achievements.

 

I don't see why not. He got that this year. Clemens is doing the exact same thing and he got 20+.

 

Bonds got that this year, but only after fishing around for offers from all the other clubs including showing up at the winter meetings and finding that nobody else would take him. Now, his good year this year might change that for somebody.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'd take Bonds without thinking twice about it. Move Soriano to RF. Pie/Jones in CF. Murton spells Bonds on his multiple off days.

 

I think I wanted something like this last offseason.

[treebird]

2 things I don't understand.

 

1. Why are people even remotely concerned about Bonds' defense? If there was ever a case of offense far outweighing any defensive liabilities, Bonds is clearly it. Even at 44, he would be a lock for a .975 OPS, and that would be his lowest in about 15 years.

 

2. Where are the Cubs getting the near $15-18M next year it would take to sign Bonds?

 

It's not a bad idea. I could care less about about the black cloud that follows him. He would help the Cubs win games. But the Cubs probably do. The Cubs probably care about his defense. They probably care about his age. They probably care about his salary, especially when paired with what will already be a 110M payroll. There have been 0 signs pointing to the Cubs increasing payroll by that much.

 

find some schmuck to take soriano's contract. i'm sure he has a crazy no trade clause or whatever, but those can always be worked around.

 

i know it's the least possible scenario imaginable, but if i were the gm this would be something close to the first order of business. the second would probably be finding a new job after being run out of town for trading the most popular player on the team, but whatever.

[Omar]

Move Soriano to RF. Pie/Jones in CF. Murton spells Bonds on his multiple off days.

 

That's exactly what should happen if we get Bonds. It won't happen, but putting Bonds at 1B will be as successful as putting Frank Thomas at 1B.

[Guest]

Move Soriano to RF. Pie/Jones in CF. Murton spells Bonds on his multiple off days.

 

That's exactly what should happen if we get Bonds. It won't happen, but putting Bonds at 1B will be as successful as putting Frank Thomas at 1B.

 

Umm...

[David]

Move Soriano to RF. Pie/Jones in CF. Murton spells Bonds on his multiple off days.

 

That's exactly what should happen if we get Bonds. It won't happen, but putting Bonds at 1B will be as successful as putting Frank Thomas at 1B.

 

Umm...

 

Double ummm

[Omar]

Move Soriano to RF. Pie/Jones in CF. Murton spells Bonds on his multiple off days.

 

That's exactly what should happen if we get Bonds. It won't happen, but putting Bonds at 1B will be as successful as putting Frank Thomas at 1B.

 

Umm...

 

Double ummm

 

There were times where Thomas's double play throws went into LF. I can't imagine Bonds, with the shape he's in, playing 1B. Keep Lee where he belongs.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Move Soriano to RF. Pie/Jones in CF. Murton spells Bonds on his multiple off days.

 

That's exactly what should happen if we get Bonds. It won't happen, but putting Bonds at 1B will be as successful as putting Frank Thomas at 1B.

 

Umm...

 

Double ummm

 

There were times where Thomas's double play throws went into LF. I can't imagine Bonds, with the shape he's in, playing 1B. Keep Lee where he belongs.

 

When did anyone say anything about Bonds playing 1B?

[Omar]

Move Soriano to RF. Pie/Jones in CF. Murton spells Bonds on his multiple off days.

 

That's exactly what should happen if we get Bonds. It won't happen, but putting Bonds at 1B will be as successful as putting Frank Thomas at 1B.

 

Umm...

 

Double ummm

 

There were times where Thomas's double play throws went into LF. I can't imagine Bonds, with the shape he's in, playing 1B. Keep Lee where he belongs.

 

When did anyone say anything about Bonds playing 1B?

 

Could Lee play RF if asked?

 

If Lee goes to RF, doesn't mean Bonds would be the one at 1B?

 

Unless he somehow meant Carlos Lee...