Giants wants Bonds to promise better behavior

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Barry Bonds and the Giants have begun talks about a new contract that would keep the slugger in San Francisco for 2007.

“I have had preliminary discussions with the Giants and I believe those discussions will continue,†Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris, told The Associated Press on Friday night.

The 42-year-old Bonds filed for free agency last Saturday and it is still unclear whether he will play a 15th season for the Giants next year, when the club hosts the All-Star game at its waterfront ballpark.

But according to the San Jose Mercury News, the Giants haven't decided whether or not to even offer Bonds a contract. According to the report, which cited several sources, the Giants want Bonds to promise to behave himself better.

The newspaper reported that last season, Bonds on several occasions made himself unavailable to pinch-hit, angering teammates and coaches.

One such instance reportedly came in late September, during a 5-3 loss to Milwaukee that eliminated the Giants from the playoff race.

Giants executive vice president Larry Baer said after Bonds filed that he had made an “organizing call†to Borris a day earlier and expected to begin serious discussions in the coming week or two.

It was thought the sides might begin talking about a new deal for Bonds immediately after the season ended, but the Giants had more pressing business after not renewing the contract of fourth-year manager Felipe Alou. San Francisco introduced Bruce Bochy as its new manager Oct. 27 after hiring him away from the division rival San Diego Padres.

http://www.netscape.com/viewstory/2006/11/05/giants-wants-bonds-to-promise-better-behavior/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msnbc.msn.com%2Fid%2F15553678%2Ffrom%2FRS.5%2F&frame=true