Bonds' contract with Giants not done deal yet

NEW YORK -- Barry Bonds' contract with the San Francisco Giants isn't final just yet.

After the commissioner's office rejected Bonds' $15.8 million, one-year deal because it contained a personal-appearance provision, the team sent revised documents to his agent, Jeff Borris.

"At this time, Barry is not signing the new documents," Borris said Wednesday.

Baseball's Uniform Player Contract states a player "agrees to cooperate with the club in any and all reasonable promotional activities." Bonds' contract had additional language that the commissioner's office rejected.

Borris did not detail the provisions in dispute, but a baseball executive, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they dealt with personal appearances.

After several disputes, lawyers for the union and the commissioner's office agreed last fall that no additional appearance provisions would be accepted in future player contracts. It was not clear Wednesday whether Bonds must sign a new contract or whether the one he already signed would be accepted with the troublesome language eliminated.

Giants executives did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Bonds and the Giants, who agreed to financial terms Dec. 7, said Monday the drawn-out agreement had been finalized.

Still, they disagree on the meaning of an unusual provision in the deal relating to Bonds' potential legal problems.

"Player acknowledges and agrees that an indictment for any criminal act ... is proper grounds for termination of this contract," Bonds' contract states.

"Player also acknowledges and agrees that he will not grieve, appeal or otherwise challenge any club action to terminate this contract as a result of player's indictment for any criminal acts [specified] ... nor will he cause or authorize any third party, such as the Major League Baseball Players Association, to grieve, appeal or otherwise challenge any club action to terminate this contract as a result of player's indictment for any [specified] criminal acts."

The Giants wanted to protect themselves if Bonds is charged in the federal government's steroids investigation. Bonds' personal trainer, Greg Anderson, is in a California federal prison because he has refused to testify whether Bonds committed perjury when he told a 2003 grand jury he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

Borris said the contract language is unenforceable under baseball's collective bargaining agreement and its inclusion is meaningless.

Prior, Cubs reach deal

Right-hander Mark Prior and the Chicago Cubs agreed on a one-year deal Wednesday and avoided salary arbitration.

Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Prior, 26, made $3.65 million last season, when he was bothered by an ailing shoulder and went 1-6 with a 7.21 ERA in nine starts.

Yanks get All-Star Game

Yankee Stadium is going out with an All-Star salute.

The beloved old ballpark will host the 79th major league All-Star Game on July 15, 2008, the final season before the New York Yankees move into a new stadium being built across the street in the Bronx.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg were on hand Wednesday at City Hall for the announcement, which had been expected for months.