It's time for someone to sign Barry Bonds

Recently Joe Sheehan from Baseball Prospectus wrote an article pleading for teams to sign Barry Bonds. http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7174

At first look I really didn't see the point as I like many baseball fans in the media, and apparently all of the GM's and managers felt that Bonds just didn't have the talent to deal with the headaches he will give teammates, and the media circus that will follow him.

At second look it now appears foolish for teams in the American league to pass up on him. I can hear the arguments for teams such as the Yankees, Red Sox, and Tigers to pass up on Bonds. Those clubs already have a solid chemistry, and are expected to contend for the pennant this year. However a team like Tampa Bay would benefit greatly by the presence of Bonds.

The Rays have yet to win 70 games as a Major League franchise and are expected to be at least respectable this year as they will field one of the better lineups in the league. However the Rays would be able to find room for Bonds as they still have not learned their lesson and will be relying on the often injured Rocco Baldelli to play in the OF. The Rays once again are left without having much insurance behind him. If Baldelli were to get hurt then Johnny Gomez would become the RF, but then the team would be left without a quality DH, and the club will assuredly play Baldelli at DH a handful of games each week to insure his health, but let's be honest Baldelli does not have the power numbers to be a sustainable DH in the American Leauge East.

If the club were to sign Bonds they could use him as a DH in place of either Gomez or Baldelli. I think the Rays are making a mistake to expect so much out of Gomez this year, granted he had a great second half last season, but there was a reason the team essentially gave up on him going into spring training last year. The Rays also are counting on a repeat performance from Carlos Pena. Pena finally fulfilled his potential last season by belting 36 home runs, but there still is a possiblity that was a fluke performance and the club needs to have some kind of insurance policy behind him.

It's doubtful the Rays will be able to match the Yankees and Red Sox this year, but at some point the club will have to prove to fans that they are willing to add some pieces to the puzzle, and will make an attempt at catching the beasts of the East. The Rays have arguably the best farm system in the majors, and should be a 80 win team without the presence of Bonds. Adding Bonds to the lineup may not give the team enough wins to contend, but should boost attendance figures and give the fans optimism for 09, when the Rays will be able to contend with the Red Sox and Yankees.

As Sheehan mentions there are a lot of negatives associated with Bonds, and one of those may be fan reaction. Luckily for the Rays, many people in Tampa aren't aware they field a baseball team, and the fact that they now have the All Time Home Run leader will make them aware of this fact. Granted some of them may refuse to attend the games, but those people probably weren't attending games regardless. The Rays are in need of a new stadium, and are on the right track to building a quality team, having a face like Bonds amongst all of the young talented players developed by Tampa may generate enough excitement in the city to support a new stadium.