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Report: Bonds tentatively plans to accept Marlins' coaching gig

Mark J. Rebilas / USA TODAY Sports / Reuters

Though terms have not yet been finalized, Barry Bonds tentatively plans to accept the Marlins' hitting coach position, wherein he'll work alongside Frank Menechino, reports USA Today's Bob Nightengale.

The club's interest in Bonds was first reported Monday by CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, who noted that team owner Jeffrey Loria is "said to have built a relationship" with the 51-year-old.

Bonds, a seven-time MVP and the game's all-time home run leader, has been mostly absent from baseball since playing his final game with the San Francisco Giants in 2007, though he served as a roving instructor with his former club for a week of spring training in 2014.

Should Bonds accept the position in Miami, he will be tasked with improving one of the worst offensive teams from 2015, as the Marlins finished second-last in the National League in runs scored (613) and fourth-last in OPS (.694). Though they got impressive seasons from Dee Gordon and Justin Bour, the Marlins were without Giancarlo Stanton for the second half due to a hand injury, while Marcell Ozuna regressed significantly and Christian Yelich stagnated in his development.

Despite Bonds' lack of coaching experience, though, Alex Rodriguez - who worked out with the Giants icon last winter - is confident he'll have a positive impact in Miami.

“You know how much I think of Barry. He has a brilliant baseball mind," Rodriguez told Joel Sherman of the New York Post. "I think he'll be good for the team, the hitters."

"I'll be really excited to see what Stanton will do with Barry there to develop (him)," Rodriguez added.

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