Not buying on Bonds

Speculation about Tigers interest in Barry Bonds apparently won’t completely die, but barring a change of course, it’s not going to happen. I know I’m not the first to say it, but it’s just not a good fit.

Here’s the hypothetical of the problem: The Tigers go into September with a chance to win the Central. For whatever reason, injuries or whatever, suppose Barry Bonds goes late into the season still trailing Hank Aaron but close. With all the attention that’s going to follow Bonds, both for the record itself and the controversy surrounding it, it wouldn’t just overshadow a pennant race. It might just overshadow everything. That’s a worst-case kind of fear.

But there’s another issue. When Dave Dombrowski was cool to the idea when asked on the radio last week, he said something pretty revealing, that the Tigers aren’t looking for someone who would be a full-time DH. Understandably, he didn’t want to call Bonds a DH, but it’s difficult to imagine him getting much time in the outfield at this point in his career.

Along with the Gary Sheffield rumors — even more publicized because it involves the media center of New York, though still unlikely to happen unless it’s a bargain — there’s the common theme that’s starting to pop up this winter, that Jim Leyland’s reputation for dealing with starts allows the Tigers can take chances with hot-button players. But just because he can deal with supposedly difficult players doesn’t mean the Tigers would want to. If you can avoid risk and still fill your needs, sometimes that’s the easier course.