According to the San Fran Chronicle today:

Despite talk that the A’s are interested in signing Bonds to a 2007 contract, replacing Frank Thomas as designated hitter, a club source said it probably won’t happen.

…[Asst GM David] Forst said the A’s are "considering" Bonds and added, "He’s probably the best player in the game over the last 15 years, and I think anyone would be interested in having his bat in the lineup."

But as the source said, don’t count on it.

The piece goes on to suggest Mike Piazza and Moises Alou might make great replacements for former DH Frank Thomas. I’d be happy with either one, even though I’m pretty certain both have dabbled in the same illegal chemicals that Bonds elevated to the level of a martial art.

So what is it that is keeping Bonds from being the ace of this season’s free agent market?

Well gee… would YOU sign a guy for $10m when he could be indicted to face criminal charges any time in the next year?

Meanwhile, Frank Thomas has officially signed with the Toronto Blue Jays, who are developing a reputation as a team who are more than happy to gamble $10m or so a season on long term contracts for players who are already at their career upsides. Witness the money thrown at BJ Ryan, AJ Burnett, and now a guy who is 103, can’t run, can’t field, weighs 275lbs, and has a long history of injury that makes last season look like the exception rather than the rule.

The Blue Jays (I still refuse to use the teen-oriented Jays name the club now prefers) are offering big Frank $9m a year for two seasons, with a third year option if he hits certain incentive targets (IE: 1050 PAs over 2 seasons, or 525 PAs in his second season). Toronto’s payroll now likely stands at $95m per season - or nearly 50% more than Oakland’s.

Now, people may well point out that I was a Thomas fan all last season - and I was. I thought he was comeback player of the year by a large margin, but here’s the thing - Oakland only spent $500k on his salary. Of course, that got up to $3m with the incentives he racked up, but more power to him - he earned those incentive payments.

But Thomas becomes a bad investment at $9m a year. At $3m a year he’s being paid what you’d pay a second string outfielder. At $9m a year, he’s eating up payroll you should be giving to a guy who’ll hit .300/25HRs/100RBIs. And chances are, this season (and especially next), that ain’t Frank Thomas.

Good move, Billy Beane. Though, not so good a move with the choice of manager for Oakland next season.

With options including TV baseball analyst and Hall of Fame pitcher Orel Hershiser, Japanese League champion manager Aaron Heilman, player favorite and infield genius Ron Washington, respected Anaheim pitching coach Bud Black, and Beane’s best friend forever Bob Geren, who did Beane choose?

That’s right. He chose his BFF. Weak.