When the Dodgers signed free agent pitcher Kevin Brown to a seven-year, $105 million contract in December 1998, then-L.A. general manager Kevin Malone, a former Orioles? assistant GM, certainly was under the impression that he had won a bidding war with someone.
It later turned out that someone was himself. No underbidder was ever identified, though Scott Boras, Brown?s agent, insisted there was one, and that for anyone to reveal contending offers would amount to “collusion.” Still, Malone was new to the job, wanted to make a major splash and ended up laying the first brick on his road out of town.
Someday, perhaps, we?ll get the inside story on that negotiation and learn whatever Boras said to get Malone to up the ante. The idea that a player?s agent would do anything untoward in order to squeeze a few additional million out of a team is shocking. I?m sure you can see the shock on my face right now. Look harder.
Barry Bonds is a free agent at the moment, and his agent, Jeff Borris, recently said he was sure that “all 30 teams” were interested in his client, “based on the revenue he would bring to the franchise.” OK, but what about the revenue he?d take from the franchise?
Thirty teams? At last count, that?s everybody, which would seem to include the Orioles. And some in the game believe the Orioles are actually entertaining the thought of seeing Bonds pass Henry Aaron?s home run record in their uniform. Why? As San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler put it on Monday, “The Orioles have become a comfy stop for alleged steroid guys. … They don?t ask a lot of nosy questions in Baltimore.”
That may have been the case at one time, but following the debacle that was the 2005 season ? and the later ramifications of the Jason Grimsley episode ? I?m quite sure that the Orioles see Bonds as eternally damaged. There are no more forgiving fans than those in Baltimore, but I doubt more than a handful would show much enthusiasm for Bonds in left field on opening day next April. They weren?t that thrilled with Sammy Sosa.
In fact, beyond the Bay Area in Northern California, I can?t see any team getting too excited about the possibility of Bonds coming to town and accelerating ticket sales, home run record notwithstanding. He?s 42, is physically unable to play every day and can be a little difficult at times. A couple of anonymous Giants? sources say that last year, Bonds didn?t always mind manager Felipe Alou, and at times refused to pinch-hit. If there?s an Orioles kind of guy, Bonds doesn?t seem like one.
Borris has intimated that Barry?s asking price for 2007 is $14 million. He made $19.3 million in 2006, so it?s safe to assume he sees $5 million less as a bargain-basement deal. Who?s going to sink that much of their payroll into Bonds? The A?s might be interested if Frank Thomas walks, but not at that price. The Giants would take him back, but only on their terms. Could Bonds? career be over? It?s possible, though I suspect he?ll eventually work something out with someone for a small guarantee and lots of incentives.
It just won?t be here.
Phil Wood has covered baseball in the Washington/Baltimore market for more than 30 years. You can reach him at [email protected].
