Barry Bonds reportedly agreed to a contract clause allowing the San Francisco Giants to terminate his one-year, $15.8-million US deal if he is indicted.
Bonds, 41, finalized the pact by passing a physical Monday at AT&T Park, but is being investigated by a grand jury on charges that he committed perjury in 2003.
Barry Bonds is just 21 homers shy of Hank Aaron's MLB record of 755.
(Paul Connors/Associated Press)
Bonds testified during the BALCO steroid distribution case that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs, although Greg Anderson, his personal trainer, remains in a California federal prison because he refuses to disclose whether Bonds used steroids.
The New York Daily News reported Jan. 10 that Bonds failed an amphetamines test in 2006.
According to a baseball official speaking on the condition of anonymity, the Giants have the legal right to terminate Bonds's contract if he is indicted.
Citing section 7(b)(1) of the Uniform Player Contract, the official said that a player's contract can be terminated should he "fail, refuse or neglect to conform his personal conduct to the standards of good citizenship and good sportsmanship or to keep himself in first-class physical condition or to obey the club's training rules."
The official also noted that section 7(b)(3) gives a team the right to nix a deal should a player "fail, refuse or neglect to render his services hereunder or in any manner materially breach this contract."
The official further pointed out that Bonds's contract could be converted to non-guaranteed, permitting the Giants to release him before opening day at the cost of 30 to 45 days of termination pay.
But player agent Jeff Borris, who represents Bonds, figured that any attempt by the Giants to terminate the contract would be unenforceable.
"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," Borris said. "The collective bargaining agreement governs the work relationship between the owners and players, not the Giants' unilateral assertions."
Trainers off team payroll
The Giants confirmed Monday that they will no longer fund Bonds's two personal trainers, Harvey Shields and Greg Oliver.
Moreover, neither trainer will be permitted access to restricted areas at any major-league ballpark.
"I have no problems with it," Bonds said. "[Greg] and Harvey will be with me, just outside the ballpark."
Bonds was paid $22 million US last season in the final year of a five-year, $90-million US deal that he signed Jan. 14, 2002.
The controversial slugger overcame elbow problems and sore knees to hit .270 with 26 home runs, 77 runs batted in and 74 runs scored in 130 games.
Along the way, he moved past Babe Ruth into second place on the all-time homer list with 734 and to within 21 of Hank Aaron's major-league record of 755.
Bonds clubbed 73 homers in 2001 to eclipse Mark McGwire's single-season high of 70 set in 1998.
Shrouded in suspicion
Bonds is the most prolific slugger of his generation with a .299 average, 1,930 runs batted in and 2,152 runs scored in 2,860 games over 21 MLB seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Giants.
He's also stolen 509 bases and tops all major-leaguers with 2,426 walks.
Bonds has earned an unprecedented seven National League Most Valuable Player Awards, 12 Silver Slugger Awards, and eight Gold Glove Awards.
Yet all of his accomplishments are shrouded in a cloud of suspicion because Bonds is suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs.
But Bonds remains a fan favourite in San Francisco, which is hosting the 2007 MLB All-Star Game and banking on him generating plenty of interest as he takes aim at Aaron's record.
With files from the Associated Press
