MIAMI (AP) – Barry Bonds might soon be tutoring Giancarlo Stanton, slugger to slugger.
Bonds is talking with the Miami Marlins about working for them as a hitting coach, a person familiar with the discussions said Monday. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions haven’t been confirmed publicly.
The Marlins’ interest in the steroids-tainted home run king was first reported by CBSSports.com. If hired by the Marlins, Bonds would coach Stanton, their $325 million slugger, who has 181 career homers even though he just turned 26.
Frank Menechino will be back in 2016 for his third season as Marlins hitting coach, and Bonds would work with him. Bonds is the career leader in home runs with 762; Menechino hit 36.
Bonds would join the staff of six-time All-Star Don Mattingly, who recently became the Marlins’ seventh manager since June 2010. Bonds has worked as a guest instructor for the San Francisco Giants in spring training since his playing days ended.