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Bonds To Play For U.S. In World Baseball Classic
Nov. 30, 2005
Barry Bonds has agreed to play for the United States in the World Baseball Classic to be played in March, according to a report in the Oakland Tribune.
The Tribune says that agent Jeff Borris confirmed that Bonds has informed the Major League Baseball Players Association that he plans to participate.
"It's not official," Borris said. "There are still a few details to be worked out. But he has agreed to play."
Union special assistant Bobby Bonilla said that Bonds was one of the first players he called to recruit not long after the season ended.
"I'm ecstatic," Bonilla said. "He pretty much agreed in principle to play without hesitation. I'm just happy he's going to be a part of it.
"It's huge. We need the best player in the game, and we've got him."
The Tribune cited an unnamed source in reporting that rosters could be announced as early as next week.
Player participation was a hot topic at the general managers' meetings in November, and it is expected that the issue will generate further conversation at next week's winter meetings in Dallas.
The Giants, however, will likely risk more than any other team if Bonds does participate because of his age (41) and his $18 million salary for next season.
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