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By Erik Matuszewski
Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Barry Bonds signed a one-year contract to remain with the San Francisco Giants as he continues his pursuit of Hank Aaron's career home run record.
The Giants didn't disclose financial terms of the contract. Major League Baseball's Web site reported last month that Bonds, a seven-time National League Most Valuable Player, agreed to a one-year deal worth $16 million.
Bonds, 42, enters his 15th season in San Francisco with 734 career home runs, 22 short of eclipsing Aaron's record. He's been limited to 144 games the past two seasons because of knee and back problems. Last year, Bonds hit .270 with 26 home runs and 77 runs batted in.
``If you're lucky enough not to have any injuries or nagging problems, you're going to have a good season,'' Bonds said on a media conference call. ``But I can't predict what's going to happen. I'm just going to go out there and pray to God that everything holds up.''
Bonds said he would play beyond this season if he doesn't break Aaron's record. ``I'm going to keep playing,'' he said.
Giants General Manager Brian Sabean said re-signing Bonds allowed the team to avoid trading young pitching talent to acquire a veteran power hitter and run producer to replace him in the lineup. Sabean also said it freed up the funds needed to sign former American League Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito to a $126 million contract that's the richest in major-league history for a pitcher.
``We believe this combination of moves provides the Giants with a better chance of winning in 2007 and in the years ahead,'' Sabean said in a statement.
Accolades
Bonds has won two batting titles, eight Gold Glove Awards for his defense and has been voted an All-Star 13 times during his 22-year major-league career. He set the major-league single- season record of 73 homers in 2001.
Giants President Peter Magowan said the contract negotiations with Bonds and his representatives were ``complex, lengthy and unconventional.''
Bonds has been under scrutiny as part of a grand jury investigation of steroid use in professional sports. Earlier this month, the New York Daily News reported that Bonds said a substance he took from teammate Mark Sweeney's locker led him to fail a test last season for amphetamines. Bonds later apologized to Sweeney and said the Giants' first baseman had nothing to do with the matter.
Bonds wouldn't comment during the conference call on whether he used amphetamines last season and said reports that he had taken something from Sweeney's locker were false.
Magowan said the contract was completed ``only after we were convinced that the Giants' players will be able to function as a team committed to supporting each other and dedicated to doing everything they can to succeed on the playing field.''
Missing the Playoffs
The Giants had a 76-85 record last season and finished in third place in the National League's Western Division behind the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Francisco has had back-to-back losing seasons and hasn't made the playoffs since 2003.
The team lost All-Star pitcher Jason Schmidt to the Dodgers as a free agent in December, then signed Zito, a 28-year-old left-hander with one of baseball's best curveballs, to a seven- year contract. Zito spent his first seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics and won the Cy Young in 2002 as the best pitcher in the American League.
The Giants this offseason also hired Bruce Bochy away from the San Diego Padres to replace Felipe Alou as manager. The 51- year-old Bochy led the Padres to two NL West titles and one World Series appearance. Bonds called Bochy ``the perfect manager'' for the Giants.
``I've seen him on the other side and he's done great things,'' Bonds said. ``I think we have a good team, a team that has a chance to do something.''
By Erik Matuszewski
Jan. 29 (Bloomberg) -- Barry Bonds signed a one-year contract to remain with the San Francisco Giants as he continues his pursuit of Hank Aaron's career home run record.
The Giants didn't disclose financial terms of the contract. Major League Baseball's Web site reported last month that Bonds, a seven-time National League Most Valuable Player, agreed to a one-year deal worth $16 million.
Bonds, 42, enters his 15th season in San Francisco with 734 career home runs, 22 short of eclipsing Aaron's record. He's been limited to 144 games the past two seasons because of knee and back problems. Last year, Bonds hit .270 with 26 home runs and 77 runs batted in.
``If you're lucky enough not to have any injuries or nagging problems, you're going to have a good season,'' Bonds said on a media conference call. ``But I can't predict what's going to happen. I'm just going to go out there and pray to God that everything holds up.''
Bonds said he would play beyond this season if he doesn't break Aaron's record. ``I'm going to keep playing,'' he said.
Giants General Manager Brian Sabean said re-signing Bonds allowed the team to avoid trading young pitching talent to acquire a veteran power hitter and run producer to replace him in the lineup. Sabean also said it freed up the funds needed to sign former American League Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito to a $126 million contract that's the richest in major-league history for a pitcher.
``We believe this combination of moves provides the Giants with a better chance of winning in 2007 and in the years ahead,'' Sabean said in a statement.
Accolades
Bonds has won two batting titles, eight Gold Glove Awards for his defense and has been voted an All-Star 13 times during his 22-year major-league career. He set the major-league single- season record of 73 homers in 2001.
Giants President Peter Magowan said the contract negotiations with Bonds and his representatives were ``complex, lengthy and unconventional.''
Bonds has been under scrutiny as part of a grand jury investigation of steroid use in professional sports. Earlier this month, the New York Daily News reported that Bonds said a substance he took from teammate Mark Sweeney's locker led him to fail a test last season for amphetamines. Bonds later apologized to Sweeney and said the Giants' first baseman had nothing to do with the matter.
Bonds wouldn't comment during the conference call on whether he used amphetamines last season and said reports that he had taken something from Sweeney's locker were false.
Magowan said the contract was completed ``only after we were convinced that the Giants' players will be able to function as a team committed to supporting each other and dedicated to doing everything they can to succeed on the playing field.''
Missing the Playoffs
The Giants had a 76-85 record last season and finished in third place in the National League's Western Division behind the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Francisco has had back-to-back losing seasons and hasn't made the playoffs since 2003.
The team lost All-Star pitcher Jason Schmidt to the Dodgers as a free agent in December, then signed Zito, a 28-year-old left-hander with one of baseball's best curveballs, to a seven- year contract. Zito spent his first seven seasons with the Oakland Athletics and won the Cy Young in 2002 as the best pitcher in the American League.
The Giants this offseason also hired Bruce Bochy away from the San Diego Padres to replace Felipe Alou as manager. The 51- year-old Bochy led the Padres to two NL West titles and one World Series appearance. Bonds called Bochy ``the perfect manager'' for the Giants.
``I've seen him on the other side and he's done great things,'' Bonds said. ``I think we have a good team, a team that has a chance to do something.''
