Skip navigation
Site powered by
Latest news:
msnbc.com: Top msnbc.com headlines: Violence widens ahead of Greek austerity vote

Bonds reportedly intends to play in 2009

Giants slugger is 21 home runs away from tying Aaron's all-time record

Image: BondsReuters file
Barry Bonds has 734 home runs, 21 away from the record.

Barry Bonds, 21 home runs short of tying Henry Aaron's all-time record, told the San Francisco Giants that he has no intention of retiring after the 2007 or 2008 seasons, Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday.

Bonds’ contract with the Giants isn’t final just yet. After the commissioner’s office rejected Bonds’ $15.8 million, one-year deal because it contained a personal-appearance provision, the team sent revised documents to his agent, Jeff Borris.

“At this time, Barry is not signing the new documents,” Borris said.

Baseball’s Uniform Player Contract states a player “agrees to cooperate with the club in any and all reasonable promotional activities.” Bonds’ contract had additional language that the commissioner’s office rejected.

Borris did not detail the provisions in dispute, but a baseball executive, speaking on condition of anonymity because these details had not been made public, said they dealt with personal appearances.

After several disputes, lawyers for the union and the commissioner’s office agreed last fall that no additional appearance provisions would be accepted in future player contracts. It was not yet clear Wednesday whether Bonds must sign a new contract or whether the one he already signed would be accepted with the troublesome language eliminated.

Giants executives did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Bonds and the Giants, who agreed to financial terms Dec. 7, said Monday the drawn-out agreement had been finalized.

Still, they disagree on the meaning of an unusual provision in the deal relating to Bonds’ potential legal problems. In the contract, a list of crimes acts is spelled out in a section.

“Player acknowledges and agrees that an indictment for any criminal act under (that section) ... is proper grounds for termination of this contract,” Bonds’ contract states.

The language in the contract was read to The Associated Press by a person with a copy of the agreement.

“Player also acknowledges and agrees that he will not grieve, appeal or otherwise challenge any club action to terminate this contract as a result of player’s indictment for any criminal acts (specified) ... nor will he cause or authorize any third party, such as the Major League Baseball Players Association, to grieve, appeal or otherwise challenge any club action to terminate this contract as a result of player’s indictment for any (specified) criminal acts.”

The Giants wanted to protect themselves if Bonds is charged in the federal government’s steroids investigation. Bonds’ personal trainer, Greg Anderson, is in a California federal prison because he has refused to testify whether Bonds committed perjury when he told a 2003 grand jury he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

Slideshow
Image: Snee, 8, son of New York Giants player Chris Snee and head coach Coughlin's grandson plays in the confetti after the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots in the NFL Super Bowl XLVI football game in Indianapolis
  The Week in Sports Pictures
The Giants on top of the football world, getting ready for the London Olympics and more.

more photos

Borris said the contract language is unenforceable under baseball’s collective bargaining agreement and its inclusion is meaningless.

“Although it is not my policy to comment on the specifics of an individual player’s contract, the reporting that Barry will allow the Giants to get out of his contract if he is indicted on the federal steroid investigation is inaccurate,” he said. “The collective bargaining agreement governs the work relationship between the owners and players, not the Giants’ unilateral assertions.”

At a news conference Wednesday to announce the 2008 All-Star game will be played at Yankee Stadium, commissioner Bud Selig wouldn’t address a question about baseball’s plans if Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s home run record. Bonds has 734 homers, 21 shy of Aaron’s mark.

“I think I’ve spoken on that simply as much as I’m going to,” Selig said. “I’ve said that we would handle it the way we’ve handled everything else, and that’s all I have to say on that subject right now.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

advertisement
More news
Milwaukee Brewers v St. Louis Cardinals - Game Four
NBC Sports
Who made the better move?

SportsTalk: Albert Pujols signs with the Angels and Prince Fielder joins the Tigers. Which team is better now?

Image: Detroit Tigers v Los Angeles Dodgers
Getty Images
DeMarco: Dodgers can become power

DeMarco: Plug in a well-heeled ownership group and negotiate one of those mega-bucks TV deals that are going around, and the Dodgers could become the west coast version of the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox.

Interactive
Rangers Spring Baseball
Maps to spring training sites
Your guide to sites in Arizona, Florida
Slideshow
Houston Astros
  Unbreakable records in baseball
A look at the most unbreakable records in baseball including Nolan Ryan's seven no-hitters.
Slideshow
Image: Albert Pujols
  The top tools of baseball
You hear a lot about the tools of baseball, but who are the best hitters, fielders and pitchers? We break it down.

more photos