Never. I think he would clash with the good atmosphere (sp) of the Red Sox club house. Besides, Big Papi is so close to coming back - he took batting practice yesterday. And even though last week was a bit disapointing, the Sox have proven that they can win w/o Ortiz.

I hate Barry Bonds with the fire of a thousand suns. And going into this season, I didn't want him anywhere near the team... But the OPS he brings to the table is almost unparalleled. So I am tempted.

No.

Okay, I'll elaborate.

While his OPS is tempting, you know what else is? SATAN.

While he's a complete asshole, we have to think objectively about this-- Sox as BUSINESS. Rings are good, but they aren't guaranteed even with Bonds. So even with a huge potential payoff, there is sizeable risk involved, and I'm not sure it's a situation that John, Larry and Tom want to be put in.

He'd be a PR nightmare not just because he's a huge jerk, but because the Sox, like it or not, aren't the most beloved team on the planet right now, and keeping our noses as clean as possible would be a good thing. No need to have any more indictments against our team members than necessary.

OPS is great, and sorely needed, but there are other ways in which from a business perspective, he'd be a bad investment-- it's all about risk v. benefit, my friends.

And they might get him and it all works out hunky-dory-- I don't think it's the end of the world either way.

Additionally-- consider what a contract for him would look like, and think about what else that money could be spent on. Just something to ponder.

PS-- CAN WE TALK ABOUT THIS RED SOX NASCAR THING? BECAUSE IT REALLY AGGRAVATES ME. REALLY REALLY. I'd be more comfortable with signing Bonds than having that ridiculous little side project. NOT A GOOD USE OF MY TICKET REVENUES, YOU JERKS.

Texy, I trust you have read the *hilarious* FJM take on this issue already? Please tell me you have read it. Beyond priceless.

I think he is wrong for the Red Sox. I think he might be right for someone, I just don't know who that is. I think the media circus would be a distraction that you don't need.

NO, NO, NOOOOOO!

This is from one who is also a SF Giants fan (can't help it...my hometown).

He's a prima-donna, whiner, clubhouse cancer. He had clubhouse demands like multiple lockers, big screen TV, etc. He's selfish, has legal troubles looming, and has crap for knees. He'd HAVE to hit homeruns because he can't run the bases well. He certainly can't play LF anymore--dude can't run.

Can he hit? Yes (well at least he used to). But is it worth it? NO!

I'd rather wait for Big Papi to get well (loved to see him in BP) and get Manny's head straightened out. If that means losing, so be it. No Bonds.

AND...if the worse case scenario does happen and Theo loses his mind and brings Bonds to Boston, and they win, I'll still stand by my position. Mark it.

My husband wouldn't go to see the Giants with Bonds on the team, he'd just DIE to see him in his beloved Sox uniform.

NO! We have enough going against us right now, we don't need his drama.

I don't think Bonds is going to be worth bringing on, especially for the price tag he'll probably ask for (I'd expect he'll be looking 7-digits for the second half of the year). He only takes things off the table if he plays defensively and I cannot see the Sox playing Bonds over Ortiz, both from a talent standpoint (given the current states of their careers) and the fact that they would never sit the face of their franchise for a controversial star.

So who do you sit for Bonds? Assuming Ortiz is the DH when healthy, Bonds would have to play outfield. Sitting Manny or Drew is ridiculous as they are the Top 2 in Home Runs and rank in the Top 4 in OPS (with Lowell and Youk), not to mention sitting either player would waste money (as both are highly paid) and might cause some bruised egos, particularly with Manny being a bit volatile lately.

As for center field, a position Bonds hasn't played since 1996, to sit either Ellsbury or Crisp is a big hit to team speed. Although he used to be quick, Bonds does not have the quickness to steal bases anymore - Ellsbury has more steals so far this year than Bonds recorded between 2002 and 2007 combined. It's already difficult enough with a healthy team to get Crisp decent playing time (although moving Ramirez to DH during Ortiz's injury has given him a chance) and when he's active, he's been effective.

In short, Bonds is going to ask for too much money to justify having him as a fifth outfielder or pinch hitter and I can't see the Sox playing him over Ortiz at DH, nor sitting any of the current outfielders to get him time.

omg no!!! i hate barry bonds, and he would totally destroy the atmosphere in this clubhouse. idc how good he is with hitting, sometimes what matters more is how he and the players will interact, and if hes a huge jerk then we dont need him!!! ANYWAYS, when big papis back theres no need for him. bonds is a bad investment.

I'm gonna say NO WAY. Besides his legal issues, He's clubhouse poison. Papi will return, Manny will get out of his funk. We have plenty of bats, some of them just need to get thier stuff together. The money he'll want would be better spent somewhere else. I think Theo is smarter than that...at least I hope he is

Guess I'm going to follow the crowd here and say please dear God, NO!!
I know there are arguments for it from a pure wins and losses standpoint, I don't think they are valid but I understand them. For me personally though I still like to live in that fairy tale world where I feel like I'm rooting for (by and large) a good group of guys. None of the guys on this team are ever on ESPN for doing something horrible and that makes me want to root for them even more. (Sadly, this feeling is fading for the Pats.) I feel better about the time, money, energy and emotion I invest in this team if there's less of a jackass factor to it. Adding Bonds to this team skyrockets that factor up...I'd almost feel dirty rooting for them at that point. I want NO part of him being on this team!!

plus.....can't you see him disturbing the peacful and joyous world of Papi...we just can't let that happen

Bonds has already stated that he'd play for the league minimum--and donate it to charity, no less. So the price tag argument doesn't really apply.

The Sox could always pick up Bonds to DH while Ortiz is out, then DFA him once Ortiz is back, but that sort of seems like a whole boatload of trouble for a temporary player. There's a reason no team wants him, even at the league minimum.

NO

only if Ortiz can't play the rest of the season

Oh, I didn't realize he'd play for league minimum. But would be willing to go into a backup role when Ortiz comes back? I get the sense that if you're a potential Hall of Famer, you probably don't want to sit around all day and not play much. He'd obviously be a great addition from a talent standpoint, but I still feel like he'll bring a media circus and I think he'd rather play on a team that gives him more playing time.

Well, I wouldn't say NONE of the guys are ever on ESPN for doing something horrible. For example...

He wouldn't fit in. Literally and figuratively. The Sox clubhouse is not big enough for his private suite and all the amenities he would require not to mention the monkeywrench he would throw into the clubhouse atmosphere. The Manny-Youk incident aside, these guys seem to genuinely like and pull for one another.

Management and ownership seem to distance themselves from emotion when making business decisions but I can't see them wanting to take on all that baggage even if Papi can't come back at 100% this year. I would hope that they would consider fan reaction to this move as most fans regard him as an arrogant whining, cheating prima donna.

Isn't this just Randy Moss all over again? If this question has been presented when Moss was being considered for the Pats, I think it would turn out similarly.

You set the terms with Bonds: no crap, no hysterics, every one agrees to "no comment" anything about the clubhouse, Bonds gets what everyone else gets.

I think it only applies if Papi is out longer than expected (b/c you need versatile backups, which Bonds is not) AND the clubhouse agrees. If Tek can get everyone in the clubhouse to say yes, then bring on the GOAT.

Well, I was also thinking about opportunity cost in non-monetary terms: time and effort spent on PR, for example, skill lost in putting him in the lineup, etc.

However, I do like what David and DC have had to say what with how to make the clubhouse work and under what conditions: OF issues, etc., "no comment" (and actually following through).

With VERY VERY few exceptions, cultural issues really don't convince me, since that is a) for the players to work out, b) not necessarily what is best for the team, and c) based mostly on public perception of athlete personalities, which can be quite different from reality. While it is ideal to have a clubhouse where everyone is chummy and huggy and all, it cannot be forced on any group of people, and it is not the job of the ballclub to seek out compatible playmates for its players.

Is clubhouse chemistry important? Absolutely.

But if I found out Theo was making these decisions based on an abstract concept of how the players would feel about it, I'd be pissed. If we have players who allow one man to influence clubhouse chemistry so much that they do not play to their fullest potential... I'd say we have some other problems on our hands than that one man.

Me, I trust Theo. He's shown himself willing to step where others would not or did not (trading Nomar, anyone?) in order to make a better team, even at the sacrifice of the clubhouse (Mirabelli's release). If he doesn't think we need Bonds or doesn't think Bonds is worth it in very concrete terms, he won't bite. Otherwise...

And a final thought--- just to play kindergarten teacher here--- consider being fair to Bonds. Yep, he didn't play fair, all that, but seriously, why is it we can't focus on what happens on the field? Let's begin with the fact that he has yet to be convicted, by the way. I'd bet he's heard it loud and clear this season and maybe would sing a different tune to a team willing to take a chance on him. The league minimum is a start. Like him or not, its clear that baseball means something to him, and that's something the Red Sox have in common with him. Now, he could show up and be a total dick and humiliate us-- but he might not. And to have an immediate and immovable opinion about him as a person... I dunno, it strikes me as pretty unfair. I mean, you'd actually feel dirty rooting against the team? Really? Without giving him a chance?

If you were him--
and how you feel about steroids aside, remember that it's more complicated than just good guys and bad guys--
and even assuming you were guilty and under a world of shit legally--
would you want someone to take a risk with you? To be able to do what you've devoted your life to?

I dunno. Usually the Golden Rule is clear-cut-- I don't think it is here, but I think there's an opportunity to take the high road here...

Sorry to preach, but I couldn't help thinking about this while reading the vitriol.

I still can't see bringing in someone whose persona would overshadow the team as a whole. We are not desperate and we don't need the attention. Maybe a market like Kansas City could use a shot in the arm (no pun intended) that signing him would bring, but Boston doesn't need it. And we could see just how much love and dedication he has for the game if he would be willing to take the minimum salary and play for a team of that caliber in a small town market.

Francona was just on "Jim Rome Is Burning," claiming that all this talk is no more than rumor!

There have been no workouts or any such thing..
so no worries!

Big fat NO. There are only three baseball players I actually hate, and they are named Alex Rodriguez, Johnny Damon, and Barry Bonds. I won't get into A-Rod and Damon, but Bonds? He's a cheater, he's certain to be bad for clubhouse chemistry (by and large, the Sox are a nice group of people--see: Casey, Sean--and don't need to be less nice), and the Sox really don't need the kind of bad publicity this would bring.

As to what MHC was saying, I think he's run out of chances to prove he's nice. At least, he has with me personally. And as to having the ability to do what you love, a), he must not love baseball enough not to cheat at it, and b), I still don't get why he can't just play in an independent league. If he wants to play ball badly enough, he certainly can.

One more thought: steroids can ruin a person's body. If he did do them, he's due for some serious injuries, and soon.

Bottom line: the team can win without him and the issues he brings off the field just doesn't equal out.

I say no no no nooooo, for all the reasons that others have described above. I consider Bonds to be beyond despicable, and I don't want him on "my" team, period.

No way Jose! We did that once and his name was in fact Jose, as in Canseco. Even if Ortiz can’t play at 75%, I’d still say no way! Adding Bonds would make a clubhouse a circus, plus Manny is already on his way to making it a circus these days. I’d say, that if Ortiz can’t play close enough to a productive level when he returns, they should trade for the Reds RF, Ken Griffey Jr. over Bonds any day of the week. I’d love to see Griffey get a chance for a ring, but Bonds the jerk isn’t worthy. Just my 2 cents!