Giants and Bonds Agree But Don't Agree

Barry Bonds signed a one-year deal for $15.8 million with the Giants yesterday, but that doesn't mean the two sides agree on anything.

The Giants put in a clause that says they have the right to terminate the contract should Bonds be involved in any indictment involving steroids, but Bonds and his agent Jeff Borris say that the clause is unenforceable under the current collective bargaining agreement.

Here's a couple of provisions from the actual contract.

"Player acknowledges and agrees that an indictment for any criminal act under [that section] ... 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 players' indictment for any [specified] criminal acts."

The contract has not been approved by MLB yet either, because of a "personal appearance provision" contained within it. I've no idea what that means, but apparently it's a big deal. Whether Bonds is being forced to make appearances, or the Giants don't want him making any, I don't know.

Another clause in the contract is the one that won't allow Bonds to bring his personal trainers - Harvey Shields and Greg Olive r- into the the clubhouse, and are no longer on the team's payroll. Bonds former trainer Greg Anderson is currently in prison for refusing to testify to a grand jury on Bonds' possible steroid use.

Borris also said that the Giants are redrafting the deal, and will be mailing him the revised version form him and Bonds to read and sign as soon as possible.

"Although it is not my policy to comment on the specifics of an individual player's contract, the reporting that Barry will allow the Giants to get out of his contract if he is indicted on the federal steroid investigation is inaccurate. The collective bargaining agreement governs the work relationship between the owners and players, not the Giants' unilateral assertions."

I wish the Giants would just tell Barry to go to hell at this point. It won't happen - the team isn't very good, and they need something to bring in the fans - but it would be nice.