UPDATE: It's official. The Marlins have announced their coaching staff for 2016 and Bonds is the primary hitting coach
Joining the #Marlins in 2016 will be: • Tim Wallach, bench coach • Juan Nieves, pitching coach • Barry Bonds, hitting coach
— Miami Marlins (@Marlins) December 4, 2015
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UPDATE: The Marlins have reportedly offered Bonds a job as the team's co-hitting coach and the slugger "tentatively plans" to accept the job.
The #Marlins interest in Barry Bonds as their hitting coach, per @JonHeymanCBS, has progressed to job offer, as they await Bonds' decision.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 1, 2015
Barry Bonds, with negotiations not yet finalized, tentatively plans to accept the #Marlins offer to be hitting coach with Frank Menechino.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 1, 2015
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UPDATE: The Marlins are working to finalize a deal to add Bonds to their coaching staff, according to ESPN.
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The Miami Marlins already made a noteworthy hire this offseason when they signed manager Don Mattingly to a four-year contract. Another former well-known MLB veteran is under consideration for a job on their coaching staff as well.
Barry Bonds, who served as a special hitting coach for the San Francisco Giants in spring training, could make his return to the MLB with Miami, according to the latest rumors.
"In what promises to be a bombshell move, if executed, all-time great slugger Barry Bonds is under consideration to become Marlins hitting coach," reports Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
"Team higherups have quietly been discussing this possibility for weeks."
"Frank Menechino is expected back, but the Marlins would employ two hitting coaches to accommodate Bonds."
Menechino has served as the team's primary hitting coach since Oct. 11, 2013, after spending a number of seasons in the New York Yankees' farm system.
On the other hand, Bonds has spent a portion of the past two spring trainings with the Giants as a special hitting coach while also serving as a hitting consultant for MLB players, such as Alex Rodriguez. Following his second spring training with the Giants, the team discussed assigning him to an instruction role during the season after he was "well-received" by the players.
The potential monumental move of the Marlins adding Bonds to their coaching staff could further enhance an already talented lineup that consists of Giancarlo Stanton, Dee Gordon, Christian Yelich and others. Despite their promising roster, the Marlins faltered in 2015 due to injuries and constant controversy surrounding the organization. Their offense ranked 29th in the MLB.
Bonds is the MLB's all-time leader in home run and walks, so he should have some advice the team can build upon.
It's been a good year for Bonds, who had his obstruction of justice conviction thrown out by a federal court of appeals back in April. Now the 51-year-old he could be back in the MLB for the first time since the 2007 season.
