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★★★
Barry Bonds became a free agent after an incredible 2007, and word is that the 42-year-old agreed to play for the league-minimum if it meant he could keep on playing baseball. Instead, he received no offers whatsoever. The thought was that Major League Baseball had colluded against him by essentially blacklisting Bonds from the game. While this happened years ago, Bonds is now set to fight back after clearing his name for obstruction of justice charges. Bonds is going to sue MLB for collusion, and there is a decent chance he might actually win.
There are some issues that Craig Calcaterra brings up, such as the statue of limitations and that MLB can defend itself by claiming that teams independently came to the conclusion that Bonds wasn’t worth the risk for legal reasons -- such as the eventual dropping of the Mitchell Report and Bonds’ indictment by a grand jury. However, if Bonds can get some direct evidence or former front office types to testify in his favor, and can combine it with his final season’s performance, then he might have a case here. That might not be difficult, either. Please remember the league was run by the same man who made it his mission to suspend A-Rod for 2014, even if he had to illegally acquire evidence to do so.
That 2007 season was historically significant. Bonds hit .276/.480/.565 with 28 homers and led the majors in on-base percentage and intentional walks again. His OPS+ was 169, the highest-ever for a 42-year-old with at least 400 plate appearances, with the next-best being Carlton Fisk’s 134 OPS+ in 1990. Need more context? Mike Trout’s career OPS+ is 167, the same as when he won the AL MVP in 2014. Bonds bested that, and did it with 20 years on Trout. There’s just no way that any AL team could not have used the follow-up to that season at designated hitter in 2008, legal risks or no, and once Bonds gets someone in the know to say as much, MLB will be in trouble.
[Update 9:09 am]: Jon Heyman, who originally reported the Bonds’ story, has switched the legal proceedings from a lawsuit to a grievance.
- With Carlos Quentin’s retirement, the “Three Amigos” of the Diamondbacks are officially at their end.
- The Giants have been super unlucky. But they’ve also been as lucky as they’ve been unlucky. Don’t worry, we’ll explain what that all means.
- Here is Josh Hamilton autographing a baby.
- Jorge Posada is still upset at the Yankees over the way they treated him at the end of his career.
- The Rays needed to stay healthy in order to have a chance in the AL East this year, but that just hasn’t happened, and there is no cavalry coming.
- MLB would be more convincing in their defense of their umpires if they did more than suspend players a game for bumping them.
- Andrew Cashner’s story is a reminder to put things in perspective.
- The Red Sox demoted Allen Craig to get him regular playing time, and that might be just what he needs to get his career back on track.
- The Twins’ super prospect Byron Buxton is healthy, and surprise, that means he’s playing up to expectations.
- Nelson Cruz was known for crushing fastballs, but his success in 2015 has come from punishing off-speed offerings, too.
- These five teams are definitely selling at the July trade deadline. *Unless they win a whole bunch of games in a row and nullify this early declaration.
- Speaking of trades, the ones the Brewers make -- and they will make trades -- will indicate what direction they are pointing the franchise in.
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