Post by #1 Jays Fan on Mar 27, 2008 11:40:00 GMT -5
Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Paul Godfrey told a Toronto radio station Tuesday that the team briefly floated the idea of signing Barry Bonds, but decided he would be too much of a distraction to the team.
Speaking to 680 News, Godfrey said "we discussed [signing Bonds] with [general manager] J.P. Ricciardi and his people, and the conversation lasted about five minutes and we all agreed unanimously that Barry Bonds would be a major distraction to the team, especially a team that had a lot of young players. We didn't want a media circus wherever we went as a team."
The Tampa Bay Rays acknowledged last month that it had internal discussions about the prospect of pursuing Bonds. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa had interest in Bonds but Cardinals management decided against opening talks.
Godfrey's admission comes a week after the head of baseball's players' union wondered if teams were guilty of collusion because Bonds hadn't been signed.
Donald Fehr told reporters in Arizona that the lack of offers for baseball's home run king, as well as for some other free agents, meant his office would investigate possible collusion.
Bonds was indicted in November on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. He was charged following a four-year investigation into testimoney he gave in 2003 to a grand jury in which he denied knowingly using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. He has pleaded not guilty.
Bonds hit .276 last year with 28 homers, 66 RBIs and a major league-leading 132 walks. He made US$19.3 million, and the Giants decided to let him go after 15 seasons in San Francisco.
Speaking to 680 News, Godfrey said "we discussed [signing Bonds] with [general manager] J.P. Ricciardi and his people, and the conversation lasted about five minutes and we all agreed unanimously that Barry Bonds would be a major distraction to the team, especially a team that had a lot of young players. We didn't want a media circus wherever we went as a team."
The Tampa Bay Rays acknowledged last month that it had internal discussions about the prospect of pursuing Bonds. St. Louis manager Tony La Russa had interest in Bonds but Cardinals management decided against opening talks.
Godfrey's admission comes a week after the head of baseball's players' union wondered if teams were guilty of collusion because Bonds hadn't been signed.
Donald Fehr told reporters in Arizona that the lack of offers for baseball's home run king, as well as for some other free agents, meant his office would investigate possible collusion.
Bonds was indicted in November on four counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. He was charged following a four-year investigation into testimoney he gave in 2003 to a grand jury in which he denied knowingly using illegal performance-enhancing drugs. He has pleaded not guilty.
Bonds hit .276 last year with 28 homers, 66 RBIs and a major league-leading 132 walks. He made US$19.3 million, and the Giants decided to let him go after 15 seasons in San Francisco.
