With baseball's all-time home run king soon to be a free agent after the season, there's some suggestion the Royals might be interested in his services, at least for the short-term. It's certainly not the most likely thing to happen, but it might be a better fit than you think.
After all, the team needs a proven slugger in the lineup and Bonds still has an enviable on-base percentage. A one or two year deal for the slugger could also do some magic at the turnstiles, as every home run he hits will break his own record for career longballs. The Royals expect to have a little bit of money available to spend, too, and Bonds could prove affordable, if his baggage scares enough other teams away.
Of course, it's the baggage that presents the biggest downside. Bonds' record was set under a cloud of controversy over performance-enhancing drugs. He's been vilified as a cheater in ballparks all over America. Do the Royals really want to invite that circus every time they take the field? The Royals may not have won much in the past ten years, but they've stayed pretty clear of scandal during that time, too. Now that the team appears to be on the cusp of contention, is Bonds the type of image they want to project?
What do you think? Should the Royals make an effort to sign Bonds when he becomes available at the season's end, or should they take a pass?
Give us your thoughts in the comments section.