http://mvn.com/mlb-source/2008/06/03/could-fenway-be-barrys-next-home/print/
Barry Bonds remains a free agent, but there's a chance he won't be one much longer.\\
Could Fenway be Barry’s next home?
Posted By Daniel Rathman On June 3, 2008 @ 2:43 am In Baseballistic
On Monday night, shortly after dropping the finale of a four-game series in Baltimore, the Boston Red Sox revealed that David Ortiz will miss at least a month with a torn sheath ligament in his left wrist. While surgery is unlikely, according to manager Terry Francona, the possibility exists that Big Papi will spend the remainder of the 2008 season on the shelf.
Ortiz’s ailment creates a gaping hole in Boston’s offense, as it costs the Red Sox not only their number-three hitter, but also the lone left-handed power threat in their lineup. That lineup, now featuring Kevin Youkilis in the three-hole, remains formidable, but the loss of a perennial All-Star certainly won’t be easy to overcome.
That, inevitably, leads to the question: what — if anything — will GM Theo Epstein do to fill the void?
The Red Sox certainly have no shortage of internal options. They could make Manny Ramirez their designated hitter and start an outfield of Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp, and J.D. Drew, from left to right. They could also opt to make Sean Casey their everyday designated hitter, or give the job to one of their AAA mashers — Brandon Moss, Jeff Bailey, or Chris Carter. However, none of those would come close to filling Big Papi’s enormous shoes.
Epstein could also look at potential trade candidates outside of the organization, such as the Pirates’ Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, or the Rockies’ Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday. However, any of those four — and others, such as the Rangers’ Milton Bradley — would cost a bounty of prospects. Most are also signed at least through the 2009 season, which could present an offseason logjam. If the Red Sox were to acquire Holliday, for example, they’d likely end up declining Manny Ramirez’s option and letting him walk this winter.
Given the imperfection of the myriad internal and trade options, it’s entirely possible that Epstein will decide to think outside the box, especially if Ortiz appears likely to miss much more than a month, and particularly if season-ending surgery becomes necessary. In that case, a certain 43 year-old homerun king could appear on the Red Sox’s radar screen.
Since being let go by the Giants after the end of the 2007 season, Barry Bonds has been left waiting on the free agent market, and few suitors have dialed agent Jeff Borris’ number to court him. There are numerous teams that could benefit from Barry’s still-productive left-handed bat, but all of them apparently believe his baggage outweighs his potential. That may well be the case, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and desperation could very well set in at the front offices of 4 Yawkey Way.
Bonds appeared in 126 games for the Giants last season, logging 340 at-bats. He batted .276/.480/.565, with 28 homeruns, 132 walks, and 54 strikeouts over that span. Bonds was productive against both southpaws and northpaws, batting .265 with a .991 OPS against the former and .283 with a 1.073 OPS against the latter. He endured his fair share of slumps, but even when his swing was off, Bonds’ tremendous batting eye landed him on the basepaths well over 40 percent of the time. Clearly, the man can still hit.
The opening in Boston’s lineup seems a perfect fit for Bonds. He may no longer have the power to match David Ortiz’s homerun totals, but he easily meets the other two criteria: being left-handed, and reaching base at a .400+ clip. Bonds’ sub-par defense and balky knees would not be much of a problem either, since the opening in Boston is at designated hitter.
There would certainly be due concern about Bonds’ potentially disruptive influence on the Red Sox’s enviable clubhouse chemistry, exacerbated by the media frenzy surrounding the team in Boston. But, if there ever was a clubhouse situation Bonds could fit into, the presence of the gregarious Sean Casey and the chance to emerge as a “hero” for the team means this could very well be it.
Bonds also makes sense for the Red Sox in terms of logistics and finances. Given the low-demand for his services, Barry would have little leverage in negotiations, and would figure to accept a reasonably cheap, pro-rated contract for the remainder of the 2008 season. That scenario, as opposed to trading for someone like Jason Bay or Matt Holliday, figures to be attractive to the Red Sox, because it would dodge the otherwise troubling offseason conundrum involving what to do with Manny Ramirez and the acquired outfielder.
It may be too early to speculate on what avenues the Red Sox will take to at least partially supplant the production they’ve lost due to David Ortiz’s ailing wrist, but if Theo Epstein turns outside the organization, Barry Bonds’ name is almost certain to draw the spotlight on the rumor mill.
Barry Bonds remains a free agent, but there's a chance he won't be one much longer.\\
Could Fenway be Barry’s next home?
Posted By Daniel Rathman On June 3, 2008 @ 2:43 am In Baseballistic
On Monday night, shortly after dropping the finale of a four-game series in Baltimore, the Boston Red Sox revealed that David Ortiz will miss at least a month with a torn sheath ligament in his left wrist. While surgery is unlikely, according to manager Terry Francona, the possibility exists that Big Papi will spend the remainder of the 2008 season on the shelf.
Ortiz’s ailment creates a gaping hole in Boston’s offense, as it costs the Red Sox not only their number-three hitter, but also the lone left-handed power threat in their lineup. That lineup, now featuring Kevin Youkilis in the three-hole, remains formidable, but the loss of a perennial All-Star certainly won’t be easy to overcome.
That, inevitably, leads to the question: what — if anything — will GM Theo Epstein do to fill the void?
The Red Sox certainly have no shortage of internal options. They could make Manny Ramirez their designated hitter and start an outfield of Jacoby Ellsbury, Coco Crisp, and J.D. Drew, from left to right. They could also opt to make Sean Casey their everyday designated hitter, or give the job to one of their AAA mashers — Brandon Moss, Jeff Bailey, or Chris Carter. However, none of those would come close to filling Big Papi’s enormous shoes.
Epstein could also look at potential trade candidates outside of the organization, such as the Pirates’ Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, or the Rockies’ Garrett Atkins and Matt Holliday. However, any of those four — and others, such as the Rangers’ Milton Bradley — would cost a bounty of prospects. Most are also signed at least through the 2009 season, which could present an offseason logjam. If the Red Sox were to acquire Holliday, for example, they’d likely end up declining Manny Ramirez’s option and letting him walk this winter.
Given the imperfection of the myriad internal and trade options, it’s entirely possible that Epstein will decide to think outside the box, especially if Ortiz appears likely to miss much more than a month, and particularly if season-ending surgery becomes necessary. In that case, a certain 43 year-old homerun king could appear on the Red Sox’s radar screen.
Since being let go by the Giants after the end of the 2007 season, Barry Bonds has been left waiting on the free agent market, and few suitors have dialed agent Jeff Borris’ number to court him. There are numerous teams that could benefit from Barry’s still-productive left-handed bat, but all of them apparently believe his baggage outweighs his potential. That may well be the case, but desperate times call for desperate measures, and desperation could very well set in at the front offices of 4 Yawkey Way.
Bonds appeared in 126 games for the Giants last season, logging 340 at-bats. He batted .276/.480/.565, with 28 homeruns, 132 walks, and 54 strikeouts over that span. Bonds was productive against both southpaws and northpaws, batting .265 with a .991 OPS against the former and .283 with a 1.073 OPS against the latter. He endured his fair share of slumps, but even when his swing was off, Bonds’ tremendous batting eye landed him on the basepaths well over 40 percent of the time. Clearly, the man can still hit.
The opening in Boston’s lineup seems a perfect fit for Bonds. He may no longer have the power to match David Ortiz’s homerun totals, but he easily meets the other two criteria: being left-handed, and reaching base at a .400+ clip. Bonds’ sub-par defense and balky knees would not be much of a problem either, since the opening in Boston is at designated hitter.
There would certainly be due concern about Bonds’ potentially disruptive influence on the Red Sox’s enviable clubhouse chemistry, exacerbated by the media frenzy surrounding the team in Boston. But, if there ever was a clubhouse situation Bonds could fit into, the presence of the gregarious Sean Casey and the chance to emerge as a “hero” for the team means this could very well be it.
Bonds also makes sense for the Red Sox in terms of logistics and finances. Given the low-demand for his services, Barry would have little leverage in negotiations, and would figure to accept a reasonably cheap, pro-rated contract for the remainder of the 2008 season. That scenario, as opposed to trading for someone like Jason Bay or Matt Holliday, figures to be attractive to the Red Sox, because it would dodge the otherwise troubling offseason conundrum involving what to do with Manny Ramirez and the acquired outfielder.
It may be too early to speculate on what avenues the Red Sox will take to at least partially supplant the production they’ve lost due to David Ortiz’s ailing wrist, but if Theo Epstein turns outside the organization, Barry Bonds’ name is almost certain to draw the spotlight on the rumor mill.
