Bonds Agent: He Won't Play This Season

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 7/14/8 | John Shea

[SmithL]

Barry Bonds' agent said "it's pretty obvious" the home run king won't play in the majors this year, his strongest comments to date about the unlikelihood of Bonds returning to uniform.

"I'm not optimistic any team will take him," agent Jeff Borris told The Chronicle on Monday. "I'm not a pessimistic person by nature, but it's pretty obvious he will not be a major-leaguer in 2008, because no team believes that he will be a good fit."

Borris said the 43-year-old Bonds, who had 28 homers and 66 RBIs with a .480 on-base percentage for the Giants last year, isn't ready to shut it down despite the lack of an interested team.

"Barry's not retiring, no," Borris said.

Borris said Bonds hasn't faced live pitching and hasn't recently hit off a tee, but he said his client continues to work out and would be ready to play in 10 days. But Borris doesn't expect a call.

"He deserves to go out on his own terms, not to be run out of the game in this fashion," Borris said. "He gave his heart and soul to this game. What's going on right now is not good."

Borris said he sent his file on Bonds to the players' union and hinted of collusion -

[xDGx]

Obama / Bonds 2008!

[Dilbert San Diego]

Collusion in teams not signing Barry Bonds??????

On the one hand, he still might be a productive players, esp. as a DH in the American League. On the other hand, he expects to be paid many millions of dollars, and at age 43 he’s hardly an investment for the future.

And with his ego and personality problems, and legal problems down the road, he brings too much baggage to the table.

Any GM in baseball would just say no, and apparently they have. Any GM trying to put the best team on the field, for the best use of his money, and do the best for intangibles like team chemistry, would just bypass him. I seriously doubt there is collusion involved.

[GSWarrior]

Bonds is shaken, but not stirred, after this development.

[prolifefirst]

1) Ozzie Guillen, who’s verbalized every thought he ever had, and couldn’t possibly keep his mouth shut about a conspiracy, said their is no way that Bond would be welcome on his team since he’s the antithesis of a team player.

2) Also, a month ago Ozzie critized his boss in public by saying that the GM hadn’t gotten him enough good hitters, so Ozzie desparately wants more offense.

[river rat]

""He gave his heart and soul to this game. What's going on right now is not good."

Bull squat....Barry out of baseball is the ONLY good thing that could come from Barry to baseball..

The lying slug - surprises me by not playing the race card -- crying they came after him because he's black....

Yes, he's black.. He's also a liar and a cheat --- and may soon be found to be a criminal by virtue of a PERJURY conviction...