Bonds in Pinstripes? Giuliani Sues Devils

• The Yankees discussed acquiring Barry Bonds at a meeting of high-ranking Steinbrenners in Tampa, Fla. I still don't see it happening, but this sort of move that requires money instead of prospects, is the sort that would appeal to them. Of course, if you believe in the Bonds Conspiracy talk, you'll know it won't happen because the collusive owners won't allow it.

• The Post's Leonard Shapiro discusses the local radio changeover of Sports Talk 980 from a ClearChannel-owned Fox Sports station, to a Daniel Snyder-owned Redskinscentric, ESPN station. I am bummed about the replacement of Dan Patrick's show for the Colin Cowherd show. Listening to the infallible Cowherd is like a three-hour car ride with a know-it-all sibling. Unfortunately, like political talk shows that subscribe to the same Me-Smart-You-Idiot script, it somehow makes him highly popular. Doubtful that holds among UVA football fans though. I'll miss Patrick, who was never afraid to ask tough questions and bring on writers that were always on the ball with breaking news and insight. He wasn't afraid to jab at himself or his guests (like Reggie Miller's "full steam of head," gaffe). And his team in the production booth, Paulie, Seton, et al, were always entertaining. It's a good product, and now it's completely unavailable in Washington, D.C. (Baltimore's 105.7 FM) is the closest you'll come now.

• Rudy Giuliani's son was allegedly cut from the Duke University golf team for playing a team football game "harder than the other players liked." He's now suing the school, claiming the new golf coach manufactured reasons to kick him off the team. His reluctance to take a charge was not mentioned in the article, but is suspected by North Carolina fans.

• Chad Cordero is ticked at Nats GM Jim Bowden for spilling the beans about the non-tended contract on the radio before even discussing it with him. Cordero found out about the move from his father, whose friend heard the radio interview.

Cordero Cut Loose

Jim Bowden announced in an interview with D.C. sports radio station Sportstalk 980 that the club will not tender a contract to injured closer Chad Cordero next season. Cordero is coming off surgery to repair a torn labrum and likely won't be healthy for most, if not all of next season.

Here's the Post's take as well.

Tough break for The Chief, one of the most adored players on the Nats, and just an all-around nice guy. The team could still bring him back at a reduced price (he would have been due about $5 million had they tendered him) but he'll be free to sign elsewhere at the end of the season.

It might be time to bid bon voyage to Cordero. By the time he's healthy again, a number of young arms will have auditioned for the closer's role, including current ninth-inning-man Joel Hanrahan and minor leaguer Zech Zinicola or maybe even Shairon Martis, currently a starter at AAA Columbus, but he closed the Future Stars Game for the World team. Expect to see Martis get work in some capacity when the rosters expand.

If Cordero is willing to give the Nats a huge break, he may be back, but if not I'll miss him. He was one of the first players I interviewed when the team came to D.C. and I'll never forget his excitement while describing the unique RFK Stadium phenomenon of the bouncy bleachers.

Manny Being Pansy?

Manny Ramirez is going to miss tonight's game after taking himself out of the lineup with a sore knee. That was news to Terry Francona who had the enigmatic left fielder pegged to play. It's stories like this, combined with the demands to know his future and claims that the front office keeps deceiving him that makes me think Manny is gone next year. $20 million can go a long way towards options (Mark Texeira, Matt Holiday) that don't include a guaranteed headache.

In other news, SI's Jon Heyman says some GMs are ticked at Jim Bowden for dealing Rauch for only Bonifacio, saying it may have limited the asking prices for other clubs dealing bullpen men. Apparently the Nats were asking for top prospects Michael Bowden and Jed Lowrie from the Red Sox, but only wanted Bonifacio from from D-backs.

Nats Make Their Moves

The Washington Nationals just dealt closer Jon Rauch (4-2, 17 saves, 2.98 ERA) to the Arizona Diamondbacks for 2B prospect Emilio Bonifacio. Baseball America rated Bonifacio as the D-Backs No. 6 prospect.

According to the Nats' official release, Bonifacio (.302 (111-for-367) with 18 doubles, five triples, one home run, 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 85 games with Tucson of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League this year) is one of the fastest players in the minors and projects as a future lead-off hitter. Shouldn't be too hard for him to meet that expectation on the Nats, where the only requirement is to have two functional legs. A pulse is optional, as proven by current leadoff man Willie Harris (.221 avg. through the All-Star break).

Next they made sure Bonifacio, who I'm sure will be the Nats' 2009 Opening Day starter at second, had a double play partner, giving SS Cristian Guzman a two-year contract extension.

A few thoughts:

• I was afraid GM Jim Bowden would try to hold up the bank for Rauch like he did with both he AND Chad Cordero last trade deadline. A top prospect at a position where the Nats had no long-term options is a nice haul.

• Is Arizona the new Cincinnati? Bowden used to love dealing for players on his old team (Austin Kearns, Willy Mo Pena, Jose Guillen, Ryan Wagner, etc., etc., etc.). Now it's Asst. GM Mike Rizzo, the former Director of Scouting with the Diamondbacks, grabbing from his old team. Washington previously acquired Matt Chico and minor leaguer Garret Mock from Arizona for Livan Hernandez.

• Financial terms haven't been reported yet, but my gut reaction is that I don't like the Guzman deal. Last time he was in a contract year he batted .274 with 10 SBs and 84 runs scored. Next year he drops to .219. Next year he's injured. This year (another contract year) he's had a career year (.310, 56 R thus far), but I'm hesitant about what next year holds.

His name was on the trade market, with teams like the Dodgers interested. He could have brought a nice piece in return. Now he's under contract and (depending on the terms) unlikely to move. Feels a lot like the deals the Nats gave to Ronnie Belliard and Dmitri Young last July. Those contracts haven't panned out at all.

UPDATE: MLB.com writer Bill Ladson reports the Guzman deal is two-years at $8 million per. The Nats must really think he can replicate this year's success for that kind of money.