San Francisco – In the next few days, Barry Bonds will pass Babe Ruth’s 714-home run milestone, and do it as a San Francisco Giant. His pursuit of Hank Aaron, however, may come in another uniform.
For the first time, Bonds talked Tuesday about the possibility of finishing his career in the American League as a designated hitter, a suggestion whose timing irritated the Giants’ management.
“What am I supposed to say? I don’t have another year on my contract, right? If I don’t get one here and I get one somewhere else, that’s where I play, right?” Bonds said. “This is my home. I don’t want to get too excited too early or I’ll get crushed.”
Bonds experienced rare deflation Tuesday, robbed of a home run in the fifth inning by Chicago Cubs center fielder Juan Pierre. Pierre, who so enthralled Willie Mays with his play while with the Rockies that Mays gave him his home telephone number, leaped at the fence and made a snow-cone grab. The catch drew a bemused grin from Bonds as he rounded first base.
“I know I probably broke about 40,000 people’s hearts tonight,” Pierre said. “They’re not too fond of me here.”
Bonds finished 1-for-4 with a walk. His right knee willing, the 41-year-old slugger plans to play in the remaining five games of the homestand, beginning with tonight’s matchup against the Cubs’ Carlos Zambrano.
Bonds is making $18 million in the final season of a five-year, $90 million contract. Bonds estimated he could play 155 games if not burdened by defense.
“Whew, just a DH? What? I could do that,” he said.
The Giants did not greet Bonds’ power play through the press warmly. They have continued to support Bonds as he has weathered multiple crises regarding alleged steroid use and perjury. Dealing with contract talk was an unexpected distraction for a Giants team planning a home run celebration.
“In spring training, he said he’d play next year and then he said he wouldn’t,” executive vice president Larry Baer said. “I am not ruling out that he could be back here next year. There are a lot of factors involved. Can he play left field on a regular basis? As a DH playing for the Giants that wouldn’t make very much sense.”
Baer conceded it would be difficult watching Bonds chase and possibly eclipse Aaron’s record of 755 home runs with another team. Yet in what amounted to planting the seeds of a potential divorce, Baer stressed May is not the time to make a decision regarding Bonds’ future.
“He’s changed his mind quite a bit,” Baer said.
Troy E. Renck can be reached at 303-820-5457 or trenck@denverpost.com.
