These teams are crazy not to sign Bonds. He's not going to demand as much as he's been making, and he is still the most dominant offensive player in baseball. He's almost guaranteed to give you a 1.000+ OPS, especially if he's used as a DH.

Then, you figure that if a team is struggling at the trading deadline, they can flip him to a contending team in need of a bat and pick up a prospect or two.

He's almost guaranteed to increase attendance for some of the lower-rung teams like Tampa Bay.

He's not going to demand as much as he's been making,

I don't know that and you don't know that.

Then, you figure that if a team is struggling at the trading deadline, they can flip him to a contending team in need of a bat and pick up a prospect or two.

If you think Bonds is going to sign for 3m w/o a no-trade, good luck.

Then, you figure that if a team is struggling at the trading deadline, they can flip him to a contending team in need of a bat and pick up a prospect or two.

If teams aren't willing to sign him now when he costs nothing but cash, it seems unlikely they would be willing to give up something for him two months from now.

I don't know that and you don't know that.

Do you think Bonds has any leverage as a 43-year-old player with eroding defensive skills due to balky knees that need regular fluid injections, and with a negative stigma following him everywhere he goes?

Bonds will be lucky to get anything close to a double-digit million dollar one-year deal.

If you think Bonds is going to sign for 3m w/o a no-trade, good luck.

He has little to no leverage to demand this.

If teams aren't willing to sign him now when he costs nothing but cash, it seems unlikely they would be willing to give up something for him two months from now.

The scent of a playoff berth changes a lot of things.

Bonds wants to play for 2 things - 3000 hits and a ring - and I think he'd settle for either one. I have to believe that they trump $$.

Do you think Bonds has any leverage as a 43-year-old player with eroding defensive skills due to balky knees that need regular fluid injections, and with a negative stigma following him everywhere he goes?

That's your perception, with which I have very little to disagree. But do we know that is the perception of Bonds and his agent? We know his allegations of collusion, we haven't seen anything concrete about his actual demands.

I'm a Mets fan, and I'd vote to toss $5m of ownership's money Barry's way.

---If teams aren't willing to sign him now when he costs nothing but cash, it seems unlikely they would be willing to give up something for him two months from now.---

Those first two months will shed light on 1) barry's on the field value 2) the PR hit that the team signing him takes and 3) whether or not the team trading for him is in playoff contention {like #4 said}

Meanwhile, the original signing team sells tickets and doesn't ruin any chemistry b/c losing teams don't have chemistry to begin with.

I think the Braves should sign him. If nothing else, just get some life back in the team. They have been playing as hacktastically and lifelessly as I have ever seen them in the past 5 years.

Bonds might indeed want eight figures, though. Roger Clemens earned about $1M per start last season. I can see Barry figuring he should get that level of respect, or why play at all. I don't know that that's the case, but it's entirely possible.

I like bonds and all, but I don't think he's worth $1M per start.

Those first two months will shed light on 1) barry's on the field value 2) the PR hit that the team signing him takes and 3) whether or not the team trading for him is in playoff contention {like #4 said}

Meanwhile, the original signing team sells tickets and doesn't ruin any chemistry b/c losing teams don't have chemistry to begin with.

Sure, those are reasons for a team to acquire him if he answers all those questions positively. But there's a good chance that some of those questions don't get answered positively.

I think there there are several reasons why teams should make a run at Bonds. But I don't think assuming there will be a market for him if you fall out of the race would be one of them.

Meanwhile, the original signing team sells tickets

That's just an assumption, and I'm not convinced its true. Bonds' greatest strength these days is walking a lot, which isn't thrilling to watch. His home run/plate appearance isn't as high as it used to be, and he doesn't do anything else you'd pay to watch. He's passed the home run record, and won't approach a milestone (round number) this year, most likely. He won't be loved or even liked wherever he signs. So I'd bet he wouldn't actually do a whole lot for ticket sales on a team that's not competitive.

> won't approach a milestone

He's 65 hits away from 3000.