Leyland’s Presence Convinces Bonilla To Choose Marlins

For Bobby Bonilla, Jim Leyland made all the difference.

With several teams interested in him, free-agent Bonilla decided on the Florida Marlins because he wanted to play for Leyland, the new Marlins manager.

“He’s a father figure for myself,” Bonilla said Friday after agreeing to a $23.3 million, four-year contract. “He taught me a lot about the game.”

Leyland, who was in Pittsburgh on Friday preparing for his move to Florida, said he always appreciated Bonilla’s work ethic during their six seasons in Pittsburgh.

“It’s great to be reunited with Bobby,” he said. “He and I have always had a great relationship.”

Bonilla is coming off his best season since 1990: .287 with 28 homers and 116 RBIs for the Baltimore Orioles.

Bob Stanley, on the mound for Boston when the Mets came back from a 10th-inning deficit to win Game 6 of the World Series 10 years ago, was hired by New York to coach its Pittsfield farm team. New York won the seventh game.

Frank Viola, who won 176 games, a World Series ring and the Cy Young Award in 14 years in the major leagues, announced his retirement at age 36.

The left-hander tore ligaments in his throwing arm in 1994. After spending some time in the minor leagues, he attempted a comeback from elbow surgery, but it fizzled this spring and he was relegated to the bullpen by the Toronto Blue Jays.

He was then given his release in June.

John Valentin wasn’t happy about moving from shortstop to third base for the Boston Red Sox last September. Now he’s turned his discontent into a trade request.

Valentin, Boston’s shortstop the last four seasons, asked to be traded in a letter to general manager Dan Duquette. Designated hitter Jose Canseco took a similar stance on Sept. 30, the day manager Kevin Kennedy was fired.

The Red Sox plan to make Nomar Garciaparra their regular shortstop next season.