Could Bonds Join Royals, Devil Rays?

I'd say the answer is no. For Bonds, a choice between non-contenders and retirement would end up being retirement. With that said, that doesn't mean that non-contenders who pretend that they are contenders (Rangers) won't be able to persuade him.

The A's still represent the best match, in my mind, though. Cust & Bonds can share DH & LF.

I'm becoming more interested to see what he goes for, rather then where he goes.

If he takes a 1yr/$10mm contract somewhere, it'd go a long way in showing how much he truly cares about a ring, as opposed to money. It would definitely give low market teams such as the Padres the ability to bring him onboard. Hell, maybe even the Braves would make a play and stick him in LF for 100 games. At that price, the Twins could consider bringing him in too as thei DH. If he really wants to go to a team needing a big bat for their WS push, he should take that contract.

Why exactly has the National League been completely ruled out. Bonds may be a bit of an embarrassment in the field, but he can't be worse than Manny or Adam Dunn.

Why not the Cubs? They've been looking for corner outfielders since the beginning of time. Or the Dodgers, if they can unload Pierre somehow.

"but he can't be worse than Manny"

Manny's not that bad damn it.

"Buster Olney is intrigued by the idea of Bonds in Tampa Bay."

I think it would be awesome. Putting Bonds' .480 obp right into the middle of that lineup that collective is a middle of the pack, .336 would be fun to watch. The, and don't laugh, mentoring ability he could have on the young black superstars that Tampa Bay have would also be interesting to follow.

How about the play in Seattle I forget who it was maybe Beltre hit an inside the park home run, the ball bounces around off the fence in left center, a couple feet from where Manny is standing. Instead of picking up the ball and throwing it in he kinda tries to slap it back too coco crisp who is standing like 10 feet behind him, and when Crisp doesnt realize what happened, does Manny pick the ball up? Of course not, he just points to the spot on the ground where the ball is sitting and waits for Crisp to come pick it up himself. That was hilariousssss. I love Manny. The guy is just so funny.

But yeah I agree with what you are saying. Every where you look there are very bad left fielders. While Bonds may not be as quick as he used to, he still has the experience to be able to get to the spot where he knows the ball will be, and he will catch what he gets to.

oh yeah, I agree that he probably should DH but if that isnt an option for your team I dont think it holds you back. You just have to expect that he wont be able to play but maybe 130G/370AB and wont play great D, but will mash the ball and put up an extreme OBP.

I mean he's a playoff teams dream. A guy no one wants to pitch to on your side in the most important games you play? I think the Giants would have been smart to sit down with Bonds before the deadline, tell him they werent going to re-sign him and ask if he was willing to be traded for the playoff push. They would have gotten good prospects in return instead of just losing him and the team he went to may have realized that his positive effects are worth whatever negative they may or may not have experienced. But thats a hindsight thing and pointless now...

Anyway, Nrmax, youre a Mets fan right? And you dont think it would be an overly bad thing for your Mets to sign him for 1YR do you? I think many NL clubs shouldnt be instantly discounted here; I feel this “he just can’t play in the NL” thing is pretty much a Media-Hyping because they dont like him but when it boils down to it we should probably see a pretty even split of NL/AL making serious offers...

darkstar, honestly, even though it wont ever happen, sure I would take his bat in the lineup. Even if it mean sticking Alou in right field and living with crappy corner outfield defense, because honestly doesnt bonds in a good lineup easily produce more with his bat then he loses you with his glove/ range?

All things considered, I wouldnt complain having his bat inbetween Wright and Beltran, or Wright and Alou or whatever.

Reyes
Beltran
Bonds
Wright
Delgado
Alou
Gotay
Catcher.

That would be sickk. Any team with a good centerfielder could entertain having him play the OF.

Oh I hear ya man… I would actually even want him protecting Pronk. Here, for my Indians:

Sizemore
A.Cabrera
Hafner
Bonds
V.Mart
Garko
Peralta
Gutierrez
Blake/?

That would be a nightmare to get through… Only problem is Hafner & Bonds are Lefties so Martinez might need to bat between them ~ at which point I’m not too sure I know what I would do. Bonds as a 5 hitter with Garko protecting isn’t ideal, but would still be pretty sick…

Why do you think it will never happen with the Mets though? Their stumbling here at the end of the year to make it closer than they would like tells me they will probably do something dramatic to open the gap. Alou could always be moved in a worse case, shoot he could replace Bonds to give them atleast one respectable bat in that lineup. I’m not sure I would rule them out as a strong player…