Before the ink had dried on his own contract, Giants rookie GM Josh Bonds was on the phone with SP Michael Arroyo's agent, Casey Close. "You've gotta be shitting me. Is this a prank call?", questioned Close. It wasn't. The wet-nosed, unknown GM had just topped Baltimore's record shattering offer of $754 million. $855 million is a hefty chunk of change for a 21 year old with no major league experience. Word traveled fast around the league. Disgruntled GMs who had previously shown interest in the Cuban-born Arroyo waved their white flag. This led them all to the same question- who the fuck is Josh Bonds? LoCo.com gives you the inside scoop, with Bonds' first ever interview.
First, could you tell us a little about yourself?
Josh Bonds: "I’m a lifelong Giants fan that has taken over ownership with the singular goal of returning them to glory."
What drew you to Arroyo, a player who has yet to step on an MLB mound?
JB: "Arroyo is a pitching prospect that comes with little upside: he is what he is. But to be a stud pitcher at 21 is all the upside we need. We are confident he will be among the best starters in the league for the next 10 years. We will pay dearly on the back 5 years when he’s declining and takes up half our budget, but for a decade he will anchor our rotation."
Do you feel as though you've overpaid for the young southpaw?
JB: "It is what the market dictated. Right now the Giants have a full team with only a third of the budget spent and no one good left worth spending on. I believe I can build a core of young stars and fill in with veteran pieces with the leftover budget."
Questions have arisen about your likelihood of staying with this team for the duration of this contract. Given the fact that this team has been a laughing stock and a revolving door over the past few years, how do you intend to change that stigma?
JB: "I am here for the long-run with the Giants. I may look crazy at first, but within 3 years it will all make sense."
Do you see this team as a playoff contender this year? How far away are we from seeing October baseball in the bay?
JB: "While we believe we are 2-3 years from competing, our strategy is to build a young nucleus that is signed long-term allowing us to compete consistently for years."
Only time will tell whether this highly controversial signing pays off for the young GM, but one thing is for certain- this man wont be forgotten in LoCo anytime soon.