Blackballed Bonds has eye on Japan

Links (10)

Barry Bonds to Play Ball in Japan?
Published 2/23/2008 by Larry Brown at Larry Brown Sports
... You always knew there was a possibility, as remote as it may seem. With nobody paging Jeff Borris to inquire about Baroid this off-season, the agent threw it out there that his unemployed client could be headed to the Far East to play ball in Japan. I’m sure it was meant more as a joke than a threat, but nevertheless, the idea is quite humorous. ...

Is Barry Bonds Going to Japan?
Published 2/25/2008 by PostmanR at FanHouse
Filed under: MLB TransactionsWe're a week or so into spring training here, the winter meetings have long come and gone, and Barry Bonds is still unemployed. No one seems to want to take a chance on him. San Diego seemed to be the most logical destination, but still, nothing. So if no MLB teams aren't going to take a chance with the 43-year-old slugger, his agent said he might take his services overseas. "He's not retiring," Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, told Metro yesterday. "He intends to play somewhere. If a door doesn't open for ...

Shanoff's Wake-Up Call: Vols, Tiger, D-Mac, More
Published 2/25/2008 at The Sporting Blog
... and will pick 3rd overall in the Draft, ahead of the Raiders (4th) and Chiefs (5th). On the one hand, they get a better choice; on the other, they'll pay more. Is Barry Bonds going to Japan? His agent alluded to some sort of "Slugger-in-Exile" scenario (are we even sure Japan would want him?) If I were an AL GM trying to win in that insanely competitive league, I would strongly consider signing him. (Heck, even the Pirates could use him -- and their fans are possibly the only ones in baseball who would embrace him.) Terry ...

Bonds' Agent: Japan Is An Option
Published 2/25/2008 by Cork Gaines at MLB Rumors - MLBTradeRumors.com
... Barry Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, told Metro News in Canada that Bonds intends to play in 2008 and that Japan is a very real possibility. ...

Is Japan in Bonds' future?
Published 2/25/2008 by Jeff Zillgitt at Sports Scope
... . For the second consecutive year, the front office said no."When you look at somebody dangerous to hit behind Albert, Barry was the guy I thought of," La Russa told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch . "For whatever reason, at the general manager or the ownership level, they didn't agree." No Major League Baseball team is willing to give Bonds a look this season yet. His agent, Jeff Borris, said Bonds is not ready to retire ."He intends to play somewhere. If a door doesn't open for Barry in the major leagues, as unbelievable as that possibility sounds, then Japan certainly is an ...

Bonds* To Play in Japan?
Published 2/25/2008 by McFleece at MLB Fleece Factor
... This rumor is kind of late, but worth mentioning.  Metro Canada reported over the weekend that Barry Bonds* may consider playing in Japan in 2008. ...

Bonds in Japan?
Published 2/25/2008 by Shyster at ShysterBall
Neyer opines on the possibility of Barry Bonds playing in Japan -- or anywhere else -- this year, based on a report he found speculatin' on just such a hypothesis. I agree with Rob that the use of the term "blackballed" in the linked article is a bit much. If Bonds truly wanted to play somewhere this year he could. All he'd have to do is to make it known that he'd take the drastic discount all of his baggage calls for, and there's no evidence that his people are doing that. It's also my personal opinion that Bonds is the kind of guy who would get quite a lot of ...

Barry Bonds May Be Leaving Our Shores [The Time Has Come To Say Sayonara]
Published 2/25/2008 by Rick at Deadspin
... According to Babel Fish, this is the Japanese word for steroids: ステロイド. Wouldn't it be somewhat hilarious if some jokester printed that on Barry Bonds' jersey this year? Because that's where Bonds is likely headed, according to his agent. Jeff Boras, who has been shopping around his client in spring training to no avail, has said that Barry will play in Japan if need be. ...

Barry is on the road to nowhere
Published 2/26/2008 by Mario C. at Wax Heaven
... I for one hope Barry ends up playing his last years in Japan, where he will be looked at his a superhero-type ball player. The thing is, no matter how worshiped he will be over there—to us, he will always be a miserable human being who stole the record from a true living legend, Henry Aaron. ...

Whither Goest Blackballed Barry?
Published 2/27/2008 by insomniac at Insomniac's Lounge
... still cost money, and the A's are loathe to spend more than minor league money. If attendance plummets further this season, the A's can always just tarp off another section of seats to give the appearance of a denser crowd. Verdict: Even though Bonds excels in Beane's much coveted metric of on base percentage, the A's appear content to just enjoy profits through revenue sharing without worrying about such nonsense as fielding a winning team. Japanese League Reasons to sign: Already passed Hank Aaron, now it's ...