Here is the link to Bond’s journal entry on the issue.

I have to say I’ve been taken off guard. It hasn’t hit me yet fully to realize Bonds won’t be in the same uniform next year. I know Peter McGowan had been hinting at things earlier in the season, but the timing and actual decision catches me by surprise. I thought management would at least wait till after the season to make a final decision. Bonds could have taken a huge paycut for all they knew. A lot of people thought that a paycut would have been a good idea, to help his image and to help the team win the championship.

This is really dissapointing. I think I’m going to become an A’s fan. At least the A’s knew which Barry to get rid of (Barry Zito).
If the Giants think they are going to change their team around to make it worthwhile, then they are fooling themselves. Who on the free agent market are they going to get? They don’t have the money to afford enough younger developing superstars to cover the Giants incredibly weak offensive lineup. It’s going to take years to build it up through the farm system. I think people hit the nail on the head, getting rid of Barry is to cover up Sabean’s past poor decisions(such as with Barry Zito) and not developing more hitters from the farm system.

So where is Bond’s future? Tough to say. There is the legality and demand issues to consider. I think Bonds has the highest chance of getting signed with the Angles or A’s as a DH. It’s hard to say though, because the A’s don’t have a big budget. Is Bonds willing to take a big cut in order to stay in the bay area?
Bonds is getting older and a lot of teams would not risk him for anything other than a DH. If the Giants don’t event want him for a non-DH role, I think its safe to say that Bonds will play in a American league team, if he plays anywhere next year.

Bonds has a lot of life left in him, his on base percentage and slugging is still among the top in the N.L. He is on pace to get 3000 hits, 2000 rbis, break the all time run record and extra base hits record, if he plays a full season next year.

If the demand in the market isn’t high enough, he might have trouble playing somewhere for decent money. I really hope Bonds goes to Oakland. Bonds did have talks in the offseason last year with the A’s, before the Giants re-signed him. The general manager of the A’s, also was once quoted as saying he’d sign anyone for the right price.

Well with this sad news, it’s time for me to say goodbye for the Giants this year. I will resume blogging next spring.  Please continue to leave comments to my blog posts, as I will still be around to “approve” them.