Day: December 8, 2006

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the Giants are ready to sign Barry Bonds to a one-year contract worth $16 million.

Are general manager Brian Sabean and owner Peter Magowan out of their minds? Have they forgotten about the media circus, the nine personal lockers, the personal reclining chair, and the entourage of trainers, nutritionist, massage therapists and personal butt kissers? He’s also 42, has terrible knees and oh-not-too-mention an ongoing steroid investigation surrounding him.

Let me dissect the pee-sized minds that decided to bring him back to San Fran. Are Sabean and Magowan so pathetic that they have to cater to Bonds’ every move? Sabean lied right to the Giants fans last year with this little ditty: “We’re going to get healthier and younger,” he said. “We’re moving in a new direction, because obviously what we have done has not worked.” Yet Bonds is back. Yet 35 year olds Dave Roberts and Rich Aurilia have been the face of the offseason. Yes, Sabean tried to go after Juan Pierre, Gary Mathews Jr. and Carlos Lee. But in a small twist of irony, those players all rejected equal to greater contracts with the Giants, forcing Sabean to rebuild through his farm system. Or so people thought.

What will get overlooked in all of this is that nobody wanted him. Several teams including the Padres, Rangers and Cardinals all specifically said that they wanted nothing to do with him. So why, in the name of all that is holy, would the Giants sign him for $16 million? Bonds can’t hold up for an entire season, can’t play defense and certainly can’t run the base paths anymore. Yet Bonds says “jump” and Sabean and Magowan respond with “how much money do you want?” They just paid for half a player nobody else wanted. They outbid themselves and highly overspent in the process.

The Giants just sold their souls to the devil. And paid him $16 million.