SAN FRANCISCO - The
San Francisco Giants declined to offer salary arbitration to Barry Bonds before Friday night's deadline but can still negotiate with the free-agent slugger. In the past, players not offered arbitration couldn't re-sign with their former teams until May 1. But under baseball's new labor contract, agreed to during the
World Series, the deadline lost much of its importance.
Now, free agents can return to their former teams at any time. By not offering arbitration, all a club loses is the right to receive amateur draft picks if it loses a highly ranked player to another team.
That gives the Giants and Bonds more time to work out a deal that would keep baseball's No. 2 career home run hitter in San Francisco for a 15th season. The two sides have talked this week about a new deal.
"I'm not going to categorize where we are," general manager Brian Sabean said hours before the decision was announced. "We are talking. Both sides are talking to see what can be done."
Bonds, who finished a $90 million, five-year contract at the end of the season, enters 2007 with 734 home runs — 22 shy of breaking Hank Aaron's record. Bonds has been the centerpiece of the Giants since arriving as a free agent from Pittsburgh following the 1992 season. He spent the past 14 seasons in San Francisco, leading the team to four postseason berths and helping the team top 3 million fans in attendance role in all seven seasons in their waterfront stadium.
Bonds sent the single-season home run record with 73 in 2001 and won four straight NL MVP awards from 2001-04. But there has been a cloud over those accomplishments with allegations that his success was at least partially fueled by the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
Bonds' personal trainer pleaded guilty in a steroid distribution case and Bonds himself is the target of a grand jury investigation looking into whether he perjured himself when he testified to the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative grand jury in 2003.
After missing all but 14 games in 2005 following three operations on his right knee, the seven-time NL MVP batted .270 with 26 homers and 77 RBIs in 367 at-bats in 2006. His defense in left field was spotty at times, though Bonds showed late in the year that he had regained strength in his legs and made several running catches.
Bonds has spent 14 of his 21 big league seasons with San Francisco and helped the Giants draw 3 million fans in all seven seasons of their stadium's existence.
Earlier in the day, the Giants agreed to a two-year contract with second baseman Ray Durham that is worth between $14 million and $15 million.
Right-hander Jason Schmidt was the only one of seven remaining free agents offered arbitration by the Giants. He has until Dec. 7 to accept.
Third baseman Pedro Feliz, outfielder Steve Finley, first baseman Shea Hillenbrand, catcher Todd Greene, lefty Steve Kline, and right-hander Jamey Wright were not offered arbitration.
Ray Durham and Pedro Feliz are coming back to the Giants next season, and the club hopes to add Barry Bonds to that list soon.
Durham agreed to a two-year, $14.5 million contract to return at second base; Feliz will be back at third base after agreeing to a one-year contract believed to be worth $5-6 million, pending a physical, the Mercury News has learned.
The Giants lineup is taking shape and will become even clearer today, when the club is expected to announce the signings of infielder Rich Aurilia (two years, about $7 million) and center fielder/leadoff man Dave Roberts (three years, about $18 million). Roberts said he took a team physical Friday.
With Feliz's return, Aurilia is expected to see significant time at first base. Aurilia has a physical scheduled for this morning, his agent said.
The Giants also are negotiating with catcher Bengie Molina; a club source said his signing could be announced today as well.
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