Mets Tampered Bonds?

[Skipper Steve]

Am I the only one smelling a tampering charge on the way?

"They gave me an open invitation during the season"

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2001/1109/1275847.html#

Friday, November 9

Bonds' price might be too high, but Mets will try
ESPN.com news services

After missing out on big free agents last season, the Mets are not wasting any time pursuing them this year.

General manager Steve Phillips intends on calling Barry Bonds' agent before Nov. 20 to say the Mets will pursue the single-season home run king, the New York Daily News reported Friday.

Teams can negotiate with their own free agents exclusively up until Nov. 20, but other teams can pursue free agents up until that date as long as they don't discuss specific terms.

In an interview with Roy Firestone on ESPN's Sunday Conversation, Bonds was asked if he would ever consider playing for the Mets.

"They gave me an open invitation during the season," Bonds said in the interview. "When you get an open invitation from a ballclub during the season then it does become an appealing club to go to."

But the phone call alone will not make things easy for New York. The Daily News reported that Mets co-owner Fred Wilpon has said the team will have to make room on the payroll, and removing expensive players like Todd Zeile or Robin Ventura still might not be enough. Reports this week said Bonds will seek $25 million a year for five years, a steep amount for New York.

The other hurdle for the Mets in trying to land Bonds is his agent, Scott Boras. Boras, who also represents Texas Rangers star Alex Rodriguez, and Phillips had some rocky dealings last season when the Mets were in the hunt for A-Rod. Phillips famously referred to Rodriguez as a potential "24-plus-one guy."

The Mets' other option? Citing a major-league executive, the Daily News reported the Mets have a trade for Brewers outfielder Jeromy Burnitz on the drawing board. Burnitz has been a favorite of manager Bobby Valentine and is a former Met. Burnitz, a left-handed hitter, hit 34 home runs, drove in 100 runs and scored 104 last season, and could complement Mike Piazza in the middle of the lineup.

If the Mets somehow managed to unload both Zeile and Ventura, they would need to replace them. The possible scenarios -- if they can move Zeile and do not sign Bonds, the Mets will pursue the Yankees' Tino Martinez. If they move Ventura, they will likely find a one-year replacement at third base, most likely Vinny Castilla, John Valentin or David Bell. Sources also told the paper the Mets do not plan to pursue Seattle free-agent second baseman Bret Boone.

[CubFan7125]

Maybe Bonds winds up in the "Big D" in 2002. Why not, it seems like Boras(*hole) is really the one running the Rangers.

[Duque]

Per the Skipper's prodding -

If the Mets are found to have tampered with Bonds, what would the punishment from MLB be? Texas is being accused of a similar thing after luring Assistant GM Grady Fuson away from the As, and Billy Beane is demanding top prospect Hank Blalock as compensation.

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by Duque
If the Mets are found to have tampered with Bonds, what would the punishment from MLB be?

Benny and Armando would have to finger cuff Doris from Rego Park - while the rest of the team watched, all the while eating refried beans and guzzling warm beer.

Only seems fair.

[Skipper Steve]

Originally posted by CubFan7125
Boras(*hole)

[Skipper Steve]

Just a matter of time............

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2001/1110/1276275.html

Updated: November 12, 12:57 AM ET
MLB will look into Bonds' comments about Mets
ESPN.com news services

NEW YORK -- It may be "absolutely nothing," but Major League Baseball will investigate tampering charges regarding free agent Barry Bonds and the New York Mets, Bloomberg News reported on Friday.

Bonds, who hit a record-breaking 73 homers last season, told ESPN's Roy Firestone after the season that he would consider playing for the Mets next year. He was quoted as saying, "They gave me an open invitation during the season. When you get an open invitation from a ballclub during the season, then it does become an appealing club to go to."

MLB vice president Sandy Alderson says his office will investigate whether the Mets tampered with Bonds.

"We'll look into it," Alderson told Bloomberg News. "I don't want to make more of it than it may be. It may be absolutely nothing."

"It wasn't said through any official channels," Mets public relations director Jay Horwitz told the New York Post. "It could've been a million things. "It could've been tongue in cheek. We don't even know it was a player."

Horwitz told the Post that there was "zero" chance Mets general manager Steve Phillips or anyone in the front office had approached Bonds.

A team cannot approach a player while he is under contract with another team.

The 37-year-old Bonds is the most appealing free agent on the market this season after having one of the best individual years of all time for the San Franciso Giants. In addition to his 73 homers, Bonds batted .328, drove in 137 runs and drew an amazing 177 walks for a .515 on-base percentage.