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5 MLB teams Barry Bonds should coach for next

By Matt Whitener

Sep 19, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds (25) looks on from the batting cage prior to a game against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Marlins hitting coach Barry Bonds (25) looks on from the batting cage prior to a game against the Washington Nationals at Marlins Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien (10) is met by Oakland Athletics center fielder Jake Smolinski (5) after hitting a 3 run home run in the eighth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2016; Anaheim, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics shortstop Marcus Semien (10) is met by Oakland Athletics center fielder Jake Smolinski (5) after hitting a 3 run home run in the eighth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium of Anaheim. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Oakland Athletics

A team in a perpetual state of renewing itself could do well with letting Bonds have a crack at its diverse offering of talents coming through the door. Much like in Miami, the A’s roster is full of young bats that are figuring their way out in their early days as pros. Bonds would have plenty of putty to mold into professional hitters, as well as some developing bats still have some rough edges to them, such as Marcus Semien and Khris Davis.

Granted, the 93-loss A’s arguably have less everyday talent than even a few teams that finished with worse records than them. Thus, they would be a tougher team to have a noticeable difference in improving. But with the aforementioned Simien and prospect Matt Chapman on the way as well, there will some places where Bonds can truly make an early difference in the career of some of Oakland’s finest.

Another added benefit of being in Oakland could be that it is far from the spotlight of Major League Baseball, and would offer the opportunity to work in even more anonymity than he already did in Miami. Bonds will always be a lightning rod for attention, so being able to stray even further away from it could benefit him as well.

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