Bonds arrives at winter meetings still hoping to remain with Giants

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Barry Bonds left through the kitchen one night at the 1992 winter meetings when his deal to join the San Francisco Giants hit a temporary snag. Back at baseball's annual swap session Wednesday, he quickly moved through the hotel lobby with his entourage and headed upstairs.

Fourteen years later, Bonds and the Giants are trying to extend their relationship, far apart on a deal but possibly destined to remain with each other. General manager Brian Sabean wouldn't even say if he planned to meet his star slugger.

"I'm Sgt. Schultz," Sabean said. "Silence is golden."

On the third day of the four-day meetings, other players made news while Bonds and pitcher Barry Zito weighed their options.

• The Dodgers were trying to sign free-agent pitcher Jason Schmidt to a $47 million, three-year contract, a deal that would put him at the front of a formidable rotation.
• Andy Pettitte said he will pitch next season instead of retiring, setting off bidding between the Houston Astros and New York Yankees, who want to lure him back from his hometown team.
• Ted Lilly narrowed his field to the Chicago Cubs, his most likely destination, and the Yankees.
• San Francisco finalized a $16 million, three-year contract with catcher Bengie Molina.
• The New York Mets sent pitcher Brian Bannister to the Kansas City Royals for reliever Ambiorix Burgos in the first trade of the week.
• The Mets and Oakland were talking about the possibility of New York shipping outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Athletics in a deal for starter Rich Harden or Joe Blanton.
• Cleveland completed contracts with outfielder David Dellucci ($11.5 million over three years) and reliever Joe Borowski ($4.25 million for one year), whose two-year deal with Philadelphia fell through last week after the Phillies reviewed his physical.
• Oakland agreed to a $5.5 million, two-year deal with left-handed reliever Alan Embree and was closing in on a contract for Mike Piazza, who would become the team's designated hitter.
• Two-time All-Star Mike Lieberthal agreed to a $1.25 million, one-year contract to become the Dodgers' backup catcher.
• Reserve outfielder Matt Stairs said he will sign with Toronto.
• Atlanta was close to trading left-hander Horacio Ramirez to Seattle for reliever Rafael Soriano.
• The Chicago Cubs traded utilityman Freddie Bynum to Baltimore for a player to be named. The Orioles also finalized a $900,000, one-year contract with backup catcher Paul Bako.

"There's been one trade? I didn't miss much," Athletics general manager Billy Beane said when he arrived, two days late.

Bonds wore jeans and a black polo as he walked through the lobby of the Dolphin hotel, not far from Disney's Magic Kingdom. His agent, Jeff Borris, has expressed frustration at trying to work out a deal to remain with the Giants. But no other suitors have publicly emerged.

Back at the Galt House in Louisville, Ky., in 1992, Bonds showed up for a news conference to announce his $43.75 million, six-year deal with the Giants only to have the deal held up for two days while paperwork was put together.

As for Schmidt, the Dodgers emerged as the most likely destination for the three-time All-Star, although the St. Louis Cardinals also were trying to sign him. An agreement with Los Angeles would be contingent on Schmidt passing a physical.

"We do not have a deal," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said.

Schmidt would join a rotation that includes right-hander Derek Lowe (16-8, 3.63), All-Star game starter Brad Penny (16-9, 4.33), youngster Chad Billingsley (7-4, 3.80) and newcomer Randy Wolf, a 2003 All-Star who had major elbow surgery in July 2005.

Pettitte, who immediately joined Lilly as the top available left-handers behind Zito, had been unsure whether he wanted to pitch again. The 34-year-old veteran pitched for the Yankees from 1995 to 2003, helping New York win four World Series titles and six AL pennants. He spent the last three seasons with the Astros, who reached the World Series for the first time in 2005.

Pettitte was 14-13 with a 4.20 ERA in 2006 for Houston.