Marlins appoint Barry Bonds as hitting coach

The Miami Marlins made another drastic change to their front office by appointing Barry Bonds as their new hitting coach.

In an offseason that has already seen Jordan Zimmerman and David Price land new contracts, the Miami Marlins are making their biggest moves off the field. Having already appointed Don Mattingly their new manager, the Marlins have decided to bolster their offense by hiring the greatest home-run hitter in MLB history. The news comes from Marlins beat writer Clark Spencer:

Barry Bonds’ legacy is forever tarnished after he tested positive for steroids, and it has dogged his election efforts to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Even so, he’s still one of the best hitters in league history. He may not have broken Hank Aaron’s record if he played clean, but most hitters still wouldn’t have gotten close to his mark.

Bonds definitely brings a lot to a Marlins squad that seems devoid of a real offensive threat outside of Giancarlo Stanton. Granted, they have talented players in Dee Gordon and Christian Yelich, but they can become true power hitters under the guidance of Barry Bonds.

The Marlins still have work to do if they want to compete in the National League. For starters, their rotation is in need of a drastic overhaul. Nonetheless, this is a team that’s on the rise, and it is up to Don Mattingly to help build the Marlins into a contending team.