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Barry Bonds

Odds And Ends: Benitez, David Wells, Delgado

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And for my first trick: My very first Odds and Ends.

  • The Toronto Star’s aptly named Blue Jays 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 Girardi. Wells did look comfy during a recent appearance on the not-aptly-called Best Damn Sports Show Period.
  • Mets manager Willie Randolph had penciled slugger Carlos Delgado in the seventh spot before Friday’s game against the Reds (postponed due to rain), marking the lowest spot he’s been slotted at in 12 years. Delgado didn’t see it as a demotion, but still, in light of the recent talk about his release, it raises eyebrows. For the record, Delgado is 6-20 in the last six games, with two doubles, a home run, and four RBI.

When not being a bitter nostalgic journalist, Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com

Scenarios: Bonds In The American League

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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 plop Gary Sheffield in left field (and cut Jacque Jones), creating an "apparent" need for a pure DH. For those of us too young to remember, Tigers manager Jim Leyland was instrumental during the early part of Bonds’ carreer in Pittsburgh, and Schmuck believes the 43-year-old slugger helped build Leyland’s reputation in return. (Another former Leyland protegé, Edgar Rentería, was acquired by the Tigers in the off-season).

But don’t add Bonds to your fantasy yeam just yet,  because as Schmuck points out, "it probably wouldn’t be a great idea reuniting Sheffield and Bonds after the BALCO mess."

Alejandro Leal writes for UmpBump.com

John Mozeliak Chat On MLB.com

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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

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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 to Marc Lancaster, "It’s a safe bet their choice will come from the following pool: Vanderbilt 3B Pedro Alvarez, Griffin (Ga.) High SS Tim Beckham, Florida State C Buster Posey, Missouri RHP Aaron Crow, University of San Diego LHP Brian Matusz and Riverside (Calif.) Patriot High C Kyle Skipworth."
  • Art Spander in the Oakland Tribune calls on Billy Beane to sign Barry Bonds.  Mike Sweeney and Frank Thomas aren’t enough.  Says Spander, "[Bonds] still can put balls in the seats and… butts in the seats. As opposed to you putting a tarp over them. The A’s have to stop being a secret and start becoming an attraction."
  • Brian Cashman: Phillies GM?  So speculates Jim Salisbury.  With no Johan but an injured Phil Hughes and ineffective Ian Kennedy, Cashman could find himself jettisoned by default from the organization should they miss the playoffs.  Pat Gillick’s contract is up after this year and Cashman once looked favorably on that gig.  But if you ask me, Mr. Salisbury is getting way ahead of himself.
  • Billy Wagner tells the New York Post’s Steve Serby that he expects to retire after 2009.  And he still hasn’t had a bagel.  That blows my mind.

By Nat Boyle

The Bonds Situation

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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 him an offer.  He could very well play for a million bucks.
  • "Bonds can only DH."  Given certain NL left fielders, that is quite arguable.  But even so, some contenders have obviously worse DHs.
  • " Bonds used steroids, he’s a cheater."  Gary Bennett, Mike Cameron, Brendan Donnelly, Eric Gagne, Jose Guillen, Jerry Hairston Jr., Matt Herges, Paul Lo Duca, Andy Pettitte, Nook Logan, and Ron Villone allegedly cheated; they were all signed as free agents.  Teams and fans don’t care about this as long as it improves the chances of winning.
  • "Bonds will destroy the clubhouse chemistry."  Does one man really have this power?  I imagine Bonds would be on his best behavior knowing that he was hanging by a thread and could easily be released.  I think this angle is overblown by the media.
  • I’m not a Bonds apologist; I am just explaining why I think a team should/will sign him.  It’s of no concern to me whether he plays.

Odds and Ends: Bonds, Zito, Bush

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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, noting that the team is likely to adhere to slotting guidelines.
  • Peter Abraham runs through the available catcher options for the Yankees now that Jorge Posada is DL-bound.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Johnson, Bonds, Piazza

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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 prospects for a guy that might be the 24th or 25th man on a 25-man roster. Either way, it could mean fewer trades in 2008 and beyond.

The list of players DFA’d so far this year includes some that have been productive Major Leaguers at some point in their career and could be again, including Kirk Saarloos, Juan Castro, Dan Johnson and Hideo Nomo. OK, maybe Nomo is a stretch. With players like this being made available it is even more reason for teams to avoid trades and wait. And of course Barry Bonds and Mike Piazza are still sitting out there. Let’s take a look at what is being said about these players in the Blogosphere…

  • Mets Fever wonders if Johnson is worth a flyer from the Mets but wonders who would go to make room.
  • Fanhouse sees Johnson ending up right back where he started (almost), signing with the Giants.
  • Beyond the Boxscore wrote this prior to Frank Thomas signing with the A’s, but the question, "Who Needs a DH?" is still relevant with Piazza, Bonds and Johnson. They take a look at several teams that could be in the market.
  • I am convinced that by the All-Star break, we will have seen 30 different versions of "Why [insert MLB team] should sign Barry Bonds". The latest comes from Jays Nest who argues for the Blue Jays signing the all-time home run king.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.

Retirement A Possibility For Sheffield

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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 in Bonds.  They could simply shift Carlos Guillen to DH and Brandon Inge to third if Sheffield is out of the picture. 

No Thomas, Bonds For Royals

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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

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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 is going to crack and decide that the production outweighs the baggage.

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