(AP) — Barry Bonds still wants to play next season, his agent said a day before the Major League Baseball home run king’s arraignment in federal court.
“There should be no legal conflicts that prevent Barry from being available during the 2008 championship season,” agent Jeff Borris said on Thursday.
Borris spoke shortly after returning to California from MLB’s winter meetings of general managers in Nashville, Tennessee. He said he spoke formally to 24 teams at the session and, while he would not detail specific negotiations, “Barry’s name was brought up.”
Bonds was expected to plead not guilty on Friday to four counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice. He was charged on Nov. 15 with lying to a grand jury about his steroids use.
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston is expected to set a future court date.
Bonds became a free agent after making $19.3 million (euro13 million) this year with the San Francisco Giants, who told the seven-time National League MVP they did not want him back next season.
At 43, Bonds hit 28 home runs to raise his career total to 762. He led the majors with a .480 on-base percentage.
“Barry is the best judge of his own abilities,” Borris said. “If Barry was unproductive or his skills had diminished, he would take off the uniform if that time had come.”
Bonds needs 65 hits to reach 3,000 in his career and four RBIs to reach 2,000. He has done most everything in MLB except put on a World Series ring.
“Barry plans on doing that one day,” Borris said.
Bonds’ path toward breaking Hank Aaron’s home run record was clouded for years by allegations of steroids use. He has always denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.