SAN FRANCISCO — Federal prosecutors dropped four counts of lying to a grand jury against Barry Bonds, leaving him to face trial next year on 10 counts of making false statements plus an additional obstruction-of-justice charge.
Bonds faces the same potential sentence range — probation to roughly two years in prison — if convicted. His trial is scheduled to begin March 2.
Thursday’s indictment, the third against the home-run king, came in response to U.S. District Judge Susan Illston’s decision last week ordering prosecutors to rewrite the technically faulty indictment.
Salary increases slowed.
The average salary in Major League Baseball this season was $2.93 million, the players association said in its annual report. The 3.6 percent increase was the smallest since 2004, when the average declined 2.5 percent from the previous season.
The Yankees’ average salary of $6.86 million topped the major leagues for the 10th consecutive season. The Rockies, with an average of $2.55 million, were 17th.
Footnotes.
The Cardinals acquired shortstop Khalil Greene from the Padres in exchange for minor-league pitcher Mark Worrell and a prospect to be named.
• The Giants signed shortstop Edgar Renteria to an $18.5 million, two-year contract.
• Former Rockies reliever Jorge Julio agreed to a $950,000, one-year contract with the Brewers.
• Reliever Mike Lincoln agreed to stay with the Reds, accepting a $4 million, two-year contract.
• The Red Sox signed Japanese right-hander Junichi Tazawa to a three-year deal worth $3.3 million.
The Associated Press
