Barry Bonds reveals George Steinbrenner's ultimatum that kept him from joining Yankees

The New York Yankees fared beauteous good successful the 1990s, but they really could person been adjacent better.

That’s because, according to MLB’s location tally king Barry Bonds, helium astir coiled up successful the Bronx.

However, proprietor George Steinbrenner, known for his alternatively rash decisions, gave Bonds an ultimatum that turned him off.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM 

San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds points skyward arsenic helium crosses location sheet aft hitting a three-run homer during the archetypal inning of crippled against the New York Yankees astatine Yankee Stadium.  (James Keivom/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

"George isn't present anymore, truthful I tin archer the truth, right? I would've been with the Yankees, but Steinbrenner got connected the telephone and called america and told me, 'Barry, we're going to springiness you the wealth — the highest-paid subordinate astatine that clip — but you got to motion the declaration by 2 o'clock this afternoon," Bonds said connected the Netflix broadcast. "And I said, 'Excuse me?!' And I conscionable hung the telephone up.

"And I went to spell get lunch, and Dennis Gilbert, my agent, they were like, 'Do you cognize what you conscionable did?!' I'm like, 'Did you cognize what helium conscionable said?!' I conscionable said, 'Forget it.' By the clip I walked down the thoroughfare to spell get lunch, I said, 'Let maine conscionable deliberation astir this.' The Giants called me, and I said, 'I'm going home.'"

So, alternatively of the Bronx, Bonds headed to the Bay and went to the San Francisco Giants — inactive the highest-paid subordinate successful MLB past astatine the time.

San Francisco Giants Barry Bonds talking to New York Yankees Derek Jeter portion connected basal during crippled AT&T Field successful San Francisco, California.  (Brad Mangin/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

YANKEES LEGEND GIVES THOUGHTS ON TEAM RUNNING BACK LAST SEASON'S SQUAD, AARON JUDGE'S CLUTCH FACTOR

Bonds was caller disconnected his 2nd MVP successful 3 years, cementing himself arsenic the game’s champion player, each portion Steinbrenner was suspended from Major League Baseball and was incapable to tally the day-to-day operations (he was inactive giving the paychecks, and his suspension was lifted the pursuing March).

Despite Bonds heading to San Francisco, the Yankees were inactive capable to physique their dynasty, arsenic Gene Michael brought successful the Core Four of Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte. Add Bernie Williams and Paul O’Neill to the mix, on with different moves by Bob Watson and Brian Cashman later, and you get 4 World Series titles successful 5 years.

New York Yankees' catcher Jorge Posada and San Francisco Giants' Barry Bonds ticker arsenic Bonds' three-run homer sails into the stands during the archetypal inning of crippled astatine Yankee Stadium. (James Keivom/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

New York possibly could person utilized Bonds aft the crook of the millennium, arsenic helium won 4 consecutive National League MVP Awards portion the Yankees were incapable to bring backmost different rubric until 2009.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter