Barry Signs with Giants: $16M, 1 year, $4M Performance Bonuses

Whew, perhaps I was better off waiting to write on his Barry-ness. :^) But still, I think most of holds still.

However, the contract reminds me of the last one: Barry-ian Roulette. Will this be the year he gets indicted? Will this be the year he gets lousy (see Willie Mays last seasons)? Will this be the year he gets injured, again, and miss significant time? The chambers were empty last time, except for 2005. Do you feel lucky, punk?

Contract Details

The reports are that he signed for $16M base and $4M in "performance bonuses". I guess the Giants had to change the name from "incentives" because Barry said he wouldn't sign a contract with those in there and this would save him face so that he won't look like he backed down from his stand.

Looks like the Giants backed down, though. After pursuing all these different free agents with megadeals, and striking out, I guess they felt that they had to sign Bonds to a big contract, partly because they needed his bat, partly because he would be one grouchy SOB in the clubhouse if they signed him for what his market price was, which was not that much. The previous rumor had the Giants offer at around $7-9M ("half of Bonds's demands, which I had seen ranging from $14M to $18M) with incentives that could bring his salary up to his previous salary.

I'm disappointed that they caved, but not surprised, they have not been the smartest of organizations to know when they have the negotiating edge against the other team or player. I think it would be easily worth 1,000 times the cost of the classes if Magowan would just send all of their management personnel to Harvard and have them take the negotiation skills classes and get a certificate in that.

Barry's Back Home: Welcome Back!

But that's past now, what's done is done (just like Feliz), and now we need to just accept that he's here and move on. As I speculated, I think he makes our lineup competitive now: Roberts/Winn, Vizquel, Winn/Linden, Bonds, Durham, Molina, Aurilia, Feliz. I know most won't agree but I'm not saying it is going to be world beating either, just competitive. I'll cover that in a little more detail soon then in excruciating detail in the spring, once we know what we will look like going into Opening Day.

So welcome back Barry, I hope you earn all your performance bonuses and pass Hank Aaron for the career HR mark during the season, in what hopefully is your last season, just retire while you are near your top. Given how well he played in the second half - .292/.430/.596/1.026 with 14 HR in 178 AB (ironically lower OBP though) - he should have a better year overall in 2007 vs. 2006 if he can keep it up AND stay healthy.