Bonilla Joins Leyland in Miami

Bobby Bonilla has decided to play for the Florida Marlins, and he said he picked the Marlins because Jim Leyland is the team’s new manager. Bonilla played for Leyland, the former Pittsburgh Pirate manager, for six seasons.

“He’s a father figure for myself,” Bonilla said after agreeing to a $23.3-million, four-year contract with the Marlins. “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.

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

Bonilla, who turns 34 in February, fills several of the Marlins’ needs. He’s a switch-hitter who will bat behind Gary Sheffield, whose 142 walks last season were second in the National League. And Bonilla is coming off his best season since 1990: He batted .287 with 28 homers and 116 RBIs for the Baltimore Orioles.

“We had a problem with people pitching around Sheffield,” Marlin General Manager Dave Dombrowski said. “Now, they’ll be pitching to Bobby Bo.”

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The Giants had hoped to get Bonilla but have now set their sights on Angel first baseman J.T. Snow, a baseball source said.

The Giants and Angels have had advanced discussions this week on a trade that would send Snow to San Francisco for a starting pitcher. The Angels on Wednesday signed free-agent infielder Dave Hollins, in part because of his ability to play first base as well as third.