Rosenthal's Latest: Lidge, Daniel Cabrera, Bonds, Edmonds

Ken Rosenthal has a new column up. I put the Griffey info in a separate post; let's discuss the rest. Rosenthal suggests that Brad Lidge would be harder to replace than Pat Burrell, and for that reason the Phillies will make a bigger effort to re-sign him. I imagine Phillies fans would prefer that course of action. The problem? The Phillies have little chance of offering four years, according to Jayson Stark. The Rangers will face a delicate situation in coming years: moving Michael Young to a different position. The chain reaction could make Hank Blalock available. Blalock has a...

Rosenthal's Full Count: Bonds, Webb, Hanley

Let's hit up Ken Rosenthal's latest Full Count video: Rosenthal thinks the Tigers should sign Barry Bonds. Sure, Detroit already has too many DHs, and Bonds wouldn't help their need for improved defense and speed, but they absolutely need another lefthanded bat. Rosenthal points out that the team is 11-20 in games started by RHP. As for the fear of a clubhouse problem, Gary Sheffield - who has feuded with Bonds in the past - has no problem and I would presume that the other players, particularly veterans, on the Tigers would echo that sentiment. The 3-year contract extension for...

Odds And Ends: Benitez, David Wells, Delgado

And for my first trick: My very first Odds and Ends. The Toronto Star's aptly named Blue Jay's blog reports the team placed Vernon Wells on the 15-day DL, and they expect him to be out six to eight weeks after fracturing his left wrist during Friday night's game. The Jay's also placed reliever Jeremy Accardo on the 15-day DL with a strained right forearm. As replacements, the Jays will call up infielder Joe Inglett and veteran hurler Armando Benitez. With Wells out, do the Jays re-enter the Barry Bonds speculation market? David Wells in Pinstripes? No deal says Joe...

Scenarios: Bonds In The American League

In his latest column, Baltimore Sun writer Peter Schmuck doesn't buy the collusion talk going around baseball circles regarding one Barry Bonds. He argues that the owners have no need to collude when Bonds' bad health, bad 'tude, bad rep, and age are doing just fine in keeping bidders at bay. Like many other baseball pundits, Schmuck thinks Bonds could be of some service to an American League team in need of a DH, but the reality is that only a few teams have a hole at that spot. He does raise a good point, mentioning the Tigers' decision to...

John Mozeliak Chat On MLB.com

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak chatted with fans over at MLB.com. Let's dig out the hot stove info. Mozeliak seems open to talking extension with Kyle Lohse at some point during the season. Lohse has a 3.79 ERA in seven starts. Less than 3% of his flyballs are leaving the yard, a trend that doesn't figure to last. But for less than $5MM, who's complaining? Mozeliak reiterated that the Cardinals have no interest in Barry Bonds. Trade talks "could be exciting" come July. Sadly, Juan Encarnacion is not likely to play baseball again.

Odds & Ends: Kennedy, Rays, Bonds, Wagner

And now for something completely different, Odds and Ends: ESPN reports that the Yankees optioned Ian Kennedy to Triple-A. To take his place, they recalled Darrell Rasner who in 5 Triple-A games is 4-0 with 0.87 ERA and 27 K in 31 IP. Kennedy relies on control and control he has had not. He has the highest percentage of working into hitters counts of anyone in the bigs. The Rays are the first team ever to hold the first pick in back-to-back years, and unlike last year when they selected David Price without thinking twice, they are presently undecided. According...

The Bonds Situation

This is one topic that's been hashed and rehashed about a million times. Oh well; let's talk Barry Bonds once again. SI's Tom Verducci analyzes the situation and determines that the Blue Jays make the most sense. J.P. Ricciardi indicated a lack of interest to Verducci, though. The fact remains that no team has offered Bonds even the league minimum. I am often asked whether I think he will play this year, and I keep saying yes. Here are the objections, and my answers to them: "Bonds will be too expensive." We can't say that until a team actually makes...

Odds and Ends: Bonds, Zito, Bush

Today's link compilation. Dusty Baker spoke to Barry Bonds on the phone a few weeks ago, and came away feeling that Bonds does not miss baseball. A mere ten million bucks, a team can eat that. But, as Andrew Baggarly says, "They don't make mouths big enough to eat the roughly $112.5 million that Barry Zito is guaranteed." Zito could be exiled to the bullpen. Dave Bush went unclaimed by the other 29 teams because with option waivers, the team can pull the player back if claimed. Jim Callis tosses out some options for the Astros with the 10th pick,...

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Johnson, Bonds, Piazza

So far during the 2008 regular season, 28 players have either been DFA'd or released. At the same point last year, that list only included 14 players. In the past four seasons, only 2006 (22) had more than 14 players DFA'd or released this early in the season. This will be an interesting trend to watch the rest of this season and into the early portion of 2009. It appears to be an indication that teams are showing less patience to work trades for fringe players or teams may be placing higher premiums on prospects, unwilling to move even mid-level...

Retirement A Possibility For Sheffield

Because of shoulder woes, 39 year-old DH Gary Sheffield hasn't hit well since July of last year. He's an elite slugger when he's on but terrible when he's off. In the midst of a third cortisone shot, Sheffield suggested that retirement is not out of the question. He's dealing with all kinds of pain and won't undergo another surgery. Retirement sounds like a worst-case scenario though. After all, he is set to earn $14MM in '09. If Sheff retires or hits the 60-day DL, talk of Barry Bonds or Mike Piazza could heighten. The Tigers, however, have consistently denied interest...

No Thomas, Bonds For Royals

On Monday, Bradford Doolittle suggested that Frank Thomas or Barry Bonds might make sense for the Royals if they move Billy Butler to first base. The Royals' .311 OBP is 13th in the AL; their .346 SLG is the league's worst. Based on Dayton Moore's offseason moves, he seems to be playing to win in '08. Moore rained on the Thomas/Bonds parade yesterday, implying that he is not considering either player currently. Mike Piazza might work, if it's clubhouse concerns the Royals aim to avoid.

No Offers For Bonds

Jon Heyman recently spoke to Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris. Borris said no team has made any kind of offer to Bonds, even at the league minimum. Borris might not take $400K for Bonds, but he'd listen. Tony La Russa and Ron Washington pushed for Bonds for their respective teams, but management passed. Heyman notes the Rays' flirtation as well. That's it though. No front office wants anything to do with Bonds, despite the possibility of a 1.000 OPS at a bargain basement price. I still expect Bonds to play this year. A month or two from now some team...

Royals Seeking Offensive Upgrade?

Did you know that the Royals have yet to score more than six runs in a game this season? I didn't, either, before I came across Bradford Doolittle's piece in the Kansas City Star. While the team has seen some quality performances from the pitching staff, their offense is in a rut. Lucky for them, there are two guys waiting by the phone right now who could provide instant upgrades: Frank Thomas and Barry Bonds. Thomas could definitely fit into the picture. Ross Gload is okay, but certainly not a lock as a regular. The only problem here is that...

Bonds Continues To Wait

What's up with Barry Bonds? Not a whole lot. The New York Times' Jack Curry dug up what he could by talking to a few associates of Bonds. Curry found that Bonds is working out at home and staying in shape, but not hitting. Curry is on board with the speculation that an opportunity for Bonds might open up if a DH on a contender goes down. This morning, David Chalk made a case for the Rays to sign Bonds. He can't find a reason why they shouldn't.

Despite Tiger Woes, Bonds Not An Option

John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle addresses the possibility of adding Barry Bonds to a Tigers team with a struggling offense out of the gate. The team is currently 2-9 with a league-low 33 runs scored. GM Dave Dombrowski responded to concerns raised about the offensive production thus far with his best Alfred E. Neuman impersonation, saying, "What! Me worry?" "If we hit the same all year, I'd be the most surprised I've ever been in my career," he said. On signing Bonds, Dombrowski replied, "Our everyday lineup is set. It's not even a situation with us." All this...

Baseball Blogs Weigh In

Bunch of random topics so let's just get to it and see what it being said in the Blogosphere... Big League Stew talks to Bless You Boys about the idea of Barry Bonds signing with the Tigers. BYB argues against signing Bonds noting that the Tigers already have a bunch of slow players (base cloggers?) and what they really need is some more speed in the lineup...Although we keep hearing about collusion and have not heard any numbers bandied about, Bonds has always made it very clear how much he values the almighty dollar. Does anybody else think that Bonds...

Odds and Ends: Harden, Bonds, Ramon Hernandez

Time to round up today's linkage. Susan Slusser believes Rich Harden and Joe Blanton will both be traded this season. She sees the Yankees and Mets as suitors for Harden, though he's already having a start pushed back. Jim Caple recently made his case for the Mariners to sign Barry Bonds; his logic is sound. Our Brian Bannister Q&A got a mention in the KC Star. Nice! RotoAuthority has the fantasy take on K-Rod's ailing ankles. Pure speculation, but Ken Rosenthal thinks Ramon Hernandez would be a good fit for the Reds. Not sure if the Reds were looking at...

Don't Count Bonds Out

Last we checked, Barry Bonds was determined not to retire. Rangers beat writer Jim Reeves has this to say about the basher: "Fact is, if the Rangers are somehow a surprise contender by midseason and Bonds is still out there... let me just suggest that the Bonds issue might well be revisited again by the powers that be at The Ballpark in Arlington." Reeves is not advocating the signing. In fact, he's urging Rangers owner Tom Hicks not to bend when he responded to the question of signing Bonds with a vehement, "No way" that put this rumor to sleep...

Stark's Latest: Bonds, Howard, Vargas

ESPN's Jayson Stark has a new Rumblings and Grumblings up; let's take a look. Stark surveyed execs from three teams about why Barry Bonds remains unemployed. They provided the answers you'd expect, and collusion isn't one of them. One of the team officials believes a major injury to one of the 14 DHs could very well result in a Bonds signing. Related note: Gary Sheffield just tore a tendon in his finger. Meanwhile, Joel Sherman speculates that Bonds would be a nice match with the Blue Jays. There are signs that Ryan Howard wants an unprecedented contract - he won't...

No Bonds For Seattle

One of the teams for which Barry Bonds makes the most sense is the Mariners. By shifting around various players, they could definitely use his bat at left field and DH. As a team with its sights set on '08, the Mariners probably can't afford to use Jose Vidro as their designated hitter. Nonetheless, Mariners CEO Howard Lincoln emphatically stated today that the Mariners will not sign Bonds under any circumstances at any time. Looks like it's Vidro for '08 (and perhaps '09 if his option vests). PECOTA sees Vidro hitting .281/.346/.372 this year.

Bonds Vows Not To Retire

Curious why Barry Bonds, he of the .480 OBP and undeniable baggage, doesn't have a job yet? So is the Players Association; Donald Fehr and Co. will examine whether there has been collusion against Bonds this winter. It's just part of an annual free agent market review by the union, so this isn't a huge deal. It's tough to analyze Bonds' situation without inside information. Perhaps certain clubs did look into signing him, but found his price prohibitive. Other teams may be focused on bringing in good clubhouse guys. Others may not have DH or left field vacancies. Bonds' agent...

Gammons' Latest: Bailey, Crisp, Giants

ESPN's Peter Gammons posted to his blog yesterday; let's take a look. More negative vibes around the Reds' Homer Bailey. His apparent availability seems odd given his talent. Bailey was described by an evaluator friend of Buster Olney as "someone who thinks he's got it all figured out." Gammons likes the fit of Barry Bonds in Seattle, but sees Jeff Clement as the team's DH in the event that Richie Sexson starts to repeat his '07. The A's still like Coco Crisp, but the Red Sox want young catching and/or pitching that the A's would prefer to keep. Susan Slusser...

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Barry Bonds

The biggest name remaining in the free agent market is one Barry Lamar Bonds. The most recent rumored destinations for the all-time home run champ have been the Rays, Mets and even Japan. The Rays say there was never any serious consideration and the Mets say they are not interested. The biggest question mark concerning Bonds is whether his production at age 43 is worth the circus that follows, both in the clubhouse and in the media. Yesterday at my home base, Rays Index, I contacted Chone Smith of Anaheim Angels All The Way, and creator of the CHONE projection...

Mets Have No Interest In Bonds

A couple New Yorker-perspectives on the Mets interest in Barry Bonds: First, The NY Daily News reports that the Mets have "laughed off" the idea, saying, "...a high-ranking Mets official insisted there is no interest in taking on the monumental baggage - which includes charges of perjury and obstruction of justice - stemming from the out-of-work home run king's involvement in baseball's ongoing steroids mess." And Joel Sherman at the New York Post has joined in on the fun, "Of course the Mets should enlist Barry Bonds. He fits their program perfectly. He is old, injury prone and very likely...

Olney On Bonds And The Mets

ESPN's Buster Olney makes a pretty strong case for the Mets signing Barry Bonds. Bonds is a lot like Moises Alou, only a better hitter with more baggage. Jeff Sackmann only saw six teams as possible fits for Bonds; the Alou injury might make the Mets the seventh (although Alou missing a month of the regular season was a given). The Mets could get a ton of value from left field if they somehow kept these two from being injured simultaneously. Olney argues that Bonds is the one available impact bat who can be acquired for only money. And the...

Odds and Ends: Lowry, Mantei, Inge

Link time! The White Sox had a scout watching Noah Lowry's disaster yesterday. Maybe that affected him. Todd Zolecki says Ruben Amaro Jr. is the frontrunner for the Phillies' GM job next year, with Mike Arbuckle the other main candidate. Meanwhile, Bob Ford thinks the Phils should've paid $200K for Cole Hamels' happiness. Looks like Matt Mantei's comeback attempt may come to an end. Despite Jim Leyland's comments, you have to think Dave Dombrowski will troll the market for relievers. Leyland also talked about how he's not going to force Brandon Inge to catch. Jeff Sackmann discusses some clubs that...

Odds And Ends: Crede, Marlins, Canó, Bonds

Some interesting tidbits this afternoon before I check out: Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reports that one of Brian Sabean's top advisors, Ted Uhlaender, was present to witness Joe Crede's homer off of Arizona's Max Scherzer on Saturday. Seems more and more likely, as Crede proves his back is fine, that he will be moved to the Giants. Will the White Sox get Kevin Correia in exchange for Crede? The White Sox need a back-of-the-rotation guy, and Kenny Williams and company think they can win this year. So prospects probably won't get it done. While the Giants could...

Best Fit For Bonds: Atlanta?

UPDATE: Martin Johnson at The Root is taking a path-less-tread by calling for a "happy ending" to the Barry Bonds saga. He says Bonds can still hit, and where better than Pittsburgh, a city in need of attendance since Bonds left in 1992. Personally, I can't see how Bonds can be anything more than a DH, which nixes this suggestion. Further, San Fran teammate Dave Roberts was quoted saying Bonds "is going to want to be in a situation where he can win," and the Pirates are not that. Still, Martin says, "Bonds should offer his services to his first...

Gammons' Latest: Bonds, Murton

ESPN's Peter Gammons has a new blog post with some hot stove info. Gammons has a quote from Andrew Friedman that should be the final word on Barry Bonds to Tampa Bay: If I didn't entertain ideas, be it a signing of a great hitter like Bonds or a trade, I should be fired. But that is past. Let's take Friedman at his word and rule Bonds out for the Rays. Gammons notes that the Cubs have discussed Matt Murton with the Rangers and Red Sox, but he alone wouldn't get them Marlon Byrd or Coco Crisp. Murton was drafted...

Odds and Ends: Fields, Garcia, Bonds

Welcome to today's roundup... Josh Byrnes would never give a pitcher eight years, just so you know (hat tip AZ Snakepit). South Side Sox explains how Josh Fields was posturing in not signing his contract. Unrelated interesting fact - Fields seemed headed to Florida in a Miguel Cabrera for a split-second in December. Bobby Jenks' salary is set to skyrocket next year, as he becomes arbitration-eligible. Freddy Garcia's agent talks about the Mets, Yankees, and Red Sox for his client. Garcia is targeting a June or July return. DRays Bay's free season preview guide is now available. Speaking of the...

Rays Never Serious About Bonds

The whole Barry Bonds to Tampa Bay storyline has been well overblown, as Cork Gaines has written numerous times. Jon Heyman recently talked to a "Rays person" who put the odds at 100 to 1. Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, says "People are being cheated" by not being able to see Bonds play. Interesting choice of words. Beyond the mild Tony La Russa flirtation, Heyman notes one anonymous AL GM who wanted Bonds but had his owner veto the idea. Let's see what MLBTR readers think about this situation. Will Barry Bonds play for a Major League team in 2008? Take...

Rays Considering Bonds, Piazza, Lofton

12:28pm: Andrew Friedman denies it, calling the Bonds rumor a "non-story." They never even had a harmless internal conversation about Bonds, then? 11:27am: Japan is a legitimate possibility for Barry Bonds, but he may not have exhausted his MLB options just yet. Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times says the Rays have had internal discussions about signing Bonds (hat tip DRays Bay). At some point, one of the 30 teams is going to acknowledge that Bonds adds wins. Most fans have proven that they care more about wins than steroid use. Other considerations for the Rays include Mike Piazza...

Bonds' Agent: Japan Is An Option

Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, told Metro News in Canada that Bonds intends to play in 2008 and that Japan is a very real possibility. “He’s not retiring,” Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris, told Metro yesterday. “He intends to play somewhere. If a door doesn’t open for Barry in the major leagues, as unbelievable as that possibility sounds, then Japan certainly is an option.” Currently, Borris is in Florida driving from camp to camp trying to convince GMs to sign Bonds. As we get closer and closer to the regular season, whispers will start turning into shouts involving the B-word: Blackballed....

La Russa Suggested Bonds

Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Cardinals manager once again suggested the team consider signing Barry Bonds this winter. GM John Mozeliak and company decided to pass on the idea. They've already brought in Juan Gonzalez as an aging wild card slugger, anyway. A St. Louis talk show host, Kevin Slaten, recently started a feud with La Russa over the manager's steroid connections and his unwillingness to discuss them.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Barry Bonds

He has 762 home runs and 7 MVPs. In 2007, he hit 28 home runs in only 126 games and posted a 170 OPS+, which would have led the NL if he had not come up 27 plate appearances short of qualifying. Still, Barry Bonds is without a job for 2008. Some would argue it is because he is 43 years and has bad knees that limit him to DH duty. Others would say it is because he is an unwanted distraction. Some are even beginning to whisper that Bonds is being blackballed by baseball...The Cardinals and the A's have...

Odds and Ends: Papelbon, Bonds

Your collection of links and rumors... Interestingly, Pirates GM Neal Huntington put out a statement for Pirates' fans. He explains why the Pirates have been inactive this winter, and I agree with the logic. This team doesn't need to be wasting money on mediocre free agents. Justin Huber is out of options, so he'll either make the Royals or end up elsewhere. Athletics Nation paints a picture in which the A's are buyers at this year's trade deadline. A parallel universe with a healthy Rich Harden, if you will. The Red Sox are exploring a multiyear deal for Jonathan Papelbon,...

Rosenthal's Latest: Bonds, Broussard, Hunter, Rowand, More

We missed an installment from good ol' Kenny Rosenthal yesterday. He's back today in full force (unlike another great rumor source, Buster Olney, who posted nothing really new in his blog today). The A's, once considered the best bet for Barry Bonds, are no longer interested in the indicted slugger. Rosenthal thinks it's likely that Bond's trial will start after Opening Day, causing him to miss time regardless of the verdict. And then there's the whole prison issue. The Rangers spoke to the Mariners at the GM meetings regarding the availability of Ben Broussard. Talks didn't really go anywhere, since...

Bonds And #755

An interesting fact occurred to me today after noticing Barry Bonds cranked #755 off Clay Hensley. Hensley tested positive for performance enhancers back in April of 2005. Seems more fitting than if Bonds had nailed one off Greg Maddux. Sometimes we forget the little people busted for performance enhancers. Fortunately Baseball's Steroid Era is keeping track. Is it possible that Bonds could crank #756 off a once-juiced pitcher too? Probably not, unless he enters a long slump until the Giants face the Brewers on the 24th. In that case he could nail one off Derrick Turnbow.