Wow! The Pirates could sure use him now. Since Willie Stargell retired we've been a joke. 17 seasons in a row over .300. Amazing!
Stargell was a darn good power hitter, and may have even had hit as many HRs as Bonds, had he chosen to use "performance enhancing drugs." Of course, Bonds played for Pitt for 6+ years, but your cheap management let him get away through free agency. During the Bonds era, the Pirates were far from a "joke," and won several consecutive division championships.
My guess is that their consistent "joke" status in the last decade or more is due largely to the fact that they are owned by an MSM conglomerate (McClatchey). Aside from Ted Turner, baseball teams owned by MSM organizations have generally fared poorly. That includes the Yankees under CBS, the Cubs under the Tribune Corp., and the Dodgers under FOX.