He is reportedly looking for a contract worth around $18 million, and there doesn’t seem to be a team willing to shell out that kind of cash for a bloated, oft-injured post-juice shell of the Barry Bonds we once saw. Balco Barry showed up in Florida in hopes of chatting with some managers during the winter meetings, but not much has come of his hopeful journey to Orlando. The Giants and Cardinals have both been rumored to be interested, but Giants GM Brian Sabean has said that he and Balco Barry are far apart in regards to contract expectations, and the Cardinals have essentially withdrawn from the “race”, telling San Francisco that they were no longer interested in further negotiations.

What does this mean for Barry’s future? His asking price and his agent's constant insistence that he "could snap his fingers and get a deal done" clearly indicate a troubling disconnect from reality, something that should probably be addressed by a licensed therapist (Jim Fannon, stay away), but that is not to say that Barry can’t still be productive in his 22nd season. He did hit .270 with 26 home runs and 77 RBI in 367 at-bats – not to mention a very impressive .454 OBP - last year despite the knee injuries that kept him sidelined for almost the entire 2005 season, and in a DH-only position Balco B could almost certainly hit the last 22 homers he needs to take over the #1 spot on the all-time home runs hit list (I’m assuming that is his main inspiration for wanting to play another year). His ridiculous asking price alone seems to be keeping potential suitors at bay, but I believe that the controversy that surrounds Big Bar and the reputation he has so keenly cultivated throughout the years could also be causing some clubs to shy away (although he looks rather jolly, hysterical even, in the above right picture). If Barry were to come down on his price – I’m guessing he'd have to slice that $18 mil in half to get some serious contract talk going– I think he could make a perfectly suitable and productive DH for an American League team.

Just don’t tell that to Big Stein.