"Everyone says we need more power, more speed, in the outfield, but no one has any names," White Sox general manager Ken Williams said Monday. "Give me someone who's not asking for a billion dollars."
While Bonds will not ask for a billion, he may come relatively cheap to some team wanting him to surpass Hank Aaron's all-time home run record in its uniform.
It will not be the black pinstripes of the Sox.
"I grew up with Barry [in the Bay Area]," Williams said. "I played against him in high school and we maintain a friendly relationship. He is very nice to my kids.
"And I would just as soon keep it that way."
The Sox did re-sign first baseman/outfielder Ross Gload to a $625,000, one-year contract Monday. As for Crede, the slugging third baseman who could be lost through free agency if he isn't signed long-term, his days on the South Side seem numbered.
"Everybody knows how I feel about Joe Crede," Williams said. "I wish I could have him on the club the next five years. But I do not anticipate any long-term deal there. I don't see that happening under the current landscape."
The "landscape" would include the Cubs' re-signing of third baseman Aramis Ramirez for $75 million over five years and the fact that Sox nemesis Scott Boras is Crede's agent.
That could make Crede one of the Sox players available for trade, along with young center fielder Brian Anderson and veteran pitchers Mark Buehrle and Freddy Garcia, who are on the final years of contracts.
One rumored deal of Crede for Angels outfielder/infielder Chone Figgins was scoffed at by Williams. The Angels would obviously have to add more players to the deal, perhaps starter Ervin Santana. Figgins became expendable after the Angels signed Gary Matthews Jr.
"We don't have to make deals for economic or any other reasons," Williams said. "If we can better ourselves long or short term, we will do it. Otherwise, we will sit tight.
"There have been a lot of trade talks and proposals bantered about, but nothing has been attractive to us, other than Aardsma."
Sounds like KW is going to sit awhile.