Bonds would play for free

[inari]

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/WireStory?id=5248427&page=1

 

If the Cubs had anywhere to play him I'd be furious that they're not signing him. But he really can't fit in anywhere. If the Rays want to guarantee themselves a playoff spot, they should give him a call.

[wekse]

sign him already!

[davearm2]

Let's look at the facts. Barry performed admirably in 2007. Barry is healthy. Barry has been offered at the minimum salary and Barry's trial date is in March of 2009, so there would be no interruption of the 2008 season. [b]It defies explanation as to why he is not employed in 2008 with a major league club[/b].

Seriously?

 

The only person on the face of the earth that can't come up with a plausible explanation for why nobody would want this guy at any price just so happens to be his agent?

 

What are the odds?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Sign him up!!!!

 

He can have Ward's roster spot.

[Post Count Padder]

Sign him up!!!!

 

He can have Ward's roster spot.

[Derwood]

even if he's serious (about playing for free), the union would never in a million years allow him to

[Yanksfan1523]

even if he's serious (about playing for free), the union would never in a million years allow him to

 

 

It isn't free. He will play for the prorated portion of the league minimum, which he will donate to charity (or buying tix for underprivileged).

[Jehrico]

Sounds like he's trying to bait the league. If no one takes him on his offer to play for free, then it strengthens their collusion case.

[imb]

I want the Rays to sign him

[Wheelimus]

You would have to be stupid to not sign him.

 

1.000 OPS. Pretty much guaranteed. Who gives a damn what he does in the field.

 

Shove him in left. Kosuke to center. Surely Soriano can handle right when he comes back. Until then Edmonds can surely handle right until he comes back. Afterwards plenty of at bats for Jim. Or any other OF if he falters. None of those starters are going to be hurt by a little extra time off.

 

This is the year. You have to go for it and spare no expense. When you can get a legitimate monster for a couple hundred thousand you'd be insane not to.

 

If not us some team better have a GM who isn't that dumb. Who cares what he did in the past. Obviously he'll have to pass a piss test now. If he can, screw it. 100 years people. I'd sign Stalin up if he might give me 30+ homers in a half season and change.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And think. His defense probably wouldn't be any worse that what Patterson has given us in LF.

[Roast]

The longer he goes unsigned the more i think that there is some kind of gentlemen's agreement around baseball between all the owners/gm's not to sign him. Either that or some kind of under-the-table order from Bud Selig not to sign him - I don't thin it's out of the question that baseball as a whole just wants to move on.

[TruffleShuffle]

you really think that bud selig is telling every team in baseball not to sign the all-time leading home run hitter, and that all 30 teams are successfully keeping it under wraps? come on.

[Sammy Sofa]

You would have to be stupid to not sign him.

 

1.000 OPS. Pretty much guaranteed. Who gives a damn what he does in the field.

 

Shove him in left. Kosuke to center. Surely Soriano can handle right when he comes back. Until then Edmonds can surely handle right until he comes back. Afterwards plenty of at bats for Jim. Or any other OF if he falters. None of those starters are going to be hurt by a little extra time off.

 

This is the year. You have to go for it and spare no expense. When you can get a legitimate monster for a couple hundred thousand you'd be insane not to.

 

If not us some team better have a GM who isn't that dumb. Who cares what he did in the past. Obviously he'll have to pass a piss test now. If he can, screw it. 100 years people. I'd sign Stalin up if he might give me 30+ homers in a half season and change.

 

Preach on, my brother.

[FergieJ31]

Thanks but no thanks Barry. There's a reason why 30 GM's are taking a pass and it has nothing to do with collusion or Selig. It's just prudent business.

 

I can appreciate the fact that some ppl would love to see 900-1000 OPS production out of LF (and then presumably the bench when Sori returns), but you're looking at this from a pure stats perspective. Barry is looking at possible jail time and is a massive black eye on the sport. Even under the best of circumstances he was, by all accounts, a clubhouse cancer. On top of this he's absolutely abysmal defensively of course. What GM wants any part of this scenario for a few extra HR's?

[Sammy Sofa]

Thanks but no thanks Barry. There's a reason why 30 GM's are taking a pass and it has nothing to do with collusion or Selig. It's just prudent business.

 

I can appreciate the fact that some ppl would love to see 900-1000 OPS production out of LF (and then presumably the bench when Sori returns), but you're looking at this from a pure stats perspective. Barry is looking at possible jail time and is a massive black eye on the sport. Even under the best of circumstances he was, by all accounts, a clubhouse cancer. On top of this he's absolutely abysmal defensively of course. What GM wants any part of this scenario for a few extra HR's?

 

Smart ones.

 

You know what else is a "clubhouse cancer?" Losing.

[FergieJ31]

Thanks but no thanks Barry. There's a reason why 30 GM's are taking a pass and it has nothing to do with collusion or Selig. It's just prudent business.

 

I can appreciate the fact that some ppl would love to see 900-1000 OPS production out of LF (and then presumably the bench when Sori returns), but you're looking at this from a pure stats perspective. Barry is looking at possible jail time and is a massive black eye on the sport. Even under the best of circumstances he was, by all accounts, a clubhouse cancer. On top of this he's absolutely abysmal defensively of course. What GM wants any part of this scenario for a few extra HR's?

 

Smart ones.

 

You know what else is a "clubhouse cancer?" Losing.

 

Touche. I definitely agree that winning begets chemistry, not other way around. That doesn't take away from all the cons against signing him even if you expect to see 900-1000 OPS, which is by no means guaranteed if he's off the clear.

 

Have there been any accounts of Barry working out to stay in shape? I'm not asking rhetorically, I want to know. Does he really expect to get an offer?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Getting Bonds to replace Ward to me is a no brainer. Would Bonds agree to being a bench player, spot starter? I don't know.

 

I do know that I'd love to have Bonds for that pinch hit late in the game. He has an impeccable eye and if the pitcher makes a mistake, Bonds can make them pay.

[Roast]

you really think that bud selig is telling every team in baseball not to sign the all-time leading home run hitter, and that all 30 teams are successfully keeping it under wraps? come on.

 

 

Why else would every single team in the league - especially some of those who could really use a DH - pass up on such an obvious solution? I really don't think it's so hard to believe that MLB just wants to move on from the "Bonds Era" or whatever you want to call it. And I can't say that I'm too upset about it - it's been pretty nice not to hear a bonds story on ESPN every single day.

[USSoccer]

Not that I think Hendry would ever, ever do it, but Bonds would come here to be a spot starter/pinch hitter in a heartbeat. He wants a ring, and we have a chance to win one.

[Jehrico]

you really think that bud selig is telling every team in baseball not to sign the all-time leading home run hitter, and that all 30 teams are successfully keeping it under wraps? come on.

 

 

Why else would every single team in the league - especially some of those who could really use a DH - pass up on such an obvious solution? I really don't think it's so hard to believe that MLB just wants to move on from the "Bonds Era" or whatever you want to call it. And I can't say that I'm too upset about it - it's been pretty nice not to hear a bonds story on ESPN every single day.

I don't think it's intentional collusion, the owners have far too much to lose from something so petty at this point. I think everyone is afraid of fan and potentially sponsor and media backlash if they bring him in. No one doubts he can still hit, but every other possible facet of signing him is a negative at this point.

 

My guess is someone will offer him at the trade deadline when they strike out on other attempts to improve their team. I think several owners are looking at him as a viable last resort type of option right now. Everyone wants to do it without him, but if they dont' think they can, they'll come knocking.

[SouthSideRyan]

Bonds would make a lot of sense as an August 31st signing for an NL team destined for the playoffs. You leave him on the bench to pinch hit, in key situations. When he walks you've got a huge roster in September to pinch run for him.

 

You get him on the roster in time to make the playoff roster, where you only have 11 man pitching staffs, affording yourself a guy on the bench who does nothing but pinch hit once a game. Then if you make the World Series you have him as your DH.

[chuckywang]

Thanks but no thanks Barry. There's a reason why 30 GM's are taking a pass and it has nothing to do with collusion or Selig. It's just prudent business.

 

I can appreciate the fact that some ppl would love to see 900-1000 OPS production out of LF (and then presumably the bench when Sori returns), but you're looking at this from a pure stats perspective. Barry is looking at possible jail time and is a massive black eye on the sport. Even under the best of circumstances he was, by all accounts, a clubhouse cancer. On top of this he's absolutely abysmal defensively of course. What GM wants any part of this scenario for a few extra HR's?

 

LOL, I love people who try to justify not obtaining a 1.000 OPS player for league minimum.

[Sammy Sofa]

I've you've been a fan of basebll for at least 10 years, you have rooted for at least one steroids user. Deal with it.

[Sosa21MVP]

http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/WireStory?id=5248427&page=1

 

If the Cubs had anywhere to play him I'd be furious that they're not signing him. But he really can't fit in anywhere. If the Rays want to guarantee themselves a playoff spot, they should give him a call.

 

Since when do we have nowhere to play him? Put him in LF and make Soriano play CF when he gets healthy. I'll take an OF of Bonds/Soriano/Fukudome any day of the week. Barry would make the Cubs lineup much stronger.