Bob_R
09-21-2004, 08:41 PM
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Barry Bonds will have two more seasons to break Hank Aaron's career home run record with the San Francisco Giants, who decided Tuesday to drop their right to void the final year of his contract.
Under the $90 million, five-year deal agreed to in January 2002, San Francisco could have voided the 2006 season if Bonds failed to reach 500 plate appearances next year or 1,500 combined from 2003 to 2005, including at least 400 next season.
But with Bonds as dominant as ever, the Giants decided to keep the 40-year-old outfielder for two more seasons. Bonds, who needs 55 homers to pass Aaron's mark of 755, will make $20 million in 2005 and $18 million in 2006, with $5 million of each year's salary deferred at 3.5 percent and paid from 2007 to 2011.
"Given his track record I feel very confident that he'll be wearing a Giants uniform for future team and personal milestones," owner Peter Magowan said.
Bonds is the biggest draw at SBC Park, where the Giants have topped 3 million in attendance all five seasons the stadium has been open, and is far and away the best player on a team hoping to make the postseason for a third straight year.
Bonds has been pushing for this change all year, saying he might retire after the 2005 season if the team didn't commit to keeping him through the end of his contract.
Magowan said Saturday the team would talk to Bonds about 2007 later.
Bonds, a six-time NL MVP, became the third player to reach 700 home runs last Friday night against the San Diego Padres. He added his 701st the next day and entered Tuesday night's game against the Houston Astros with 43 on the season, third most in the majors despite a major league record 208 walks.
Bonds is on pace to pass Babe Ruth (714) for second place early next year and could close in on Aaron's mark late in 2005 or early 2006.
The Giants entered Tuesday with a half-game lead in the NL wild-card race, mostly because of Bonds. Despite playing in a pitchers' park and with no other offensive superstars, San Francisco is second in the NL with 787 runs for the season.
Along with the walks record and home runs, Bonds leads the majors with a .372 batting average and is second with 120 runs. He is closing on a record with his .610 on-base percentage - 28 points higher than the mark he set in 2002 - and has an .827 slugging percentage. Bonds and Babe Ruth are the only players to top that mark.
Under the $90 million, five-year deal agreed to in January 2002, San Francisco could have voided the 2006 season if Bonds failed to reach 500 plate appearances next year or 1,500 combined from 2003 to 2005, including at least 400 next season.
But with Bonds as dominant as ever, the Giants decided to keep the 40-year-old outfielder for two more seasons. Bonds, who needs 55 homers to pass Aaron's mark of 755, will make $20 million in 2005 and $18 million in 2006, with $5 million of each year's salary deferred at 3.5 percent and paid from 2007 to 2011.
"Given his track record I feel very confident that he'll be wearing a Giants uniform for future team and personal milestones," owner Peter Magowan said.
Bonds is the biggest draw at SBC Park, where the Giants have topped 3 million in attendance all five seasons the stadium has been open, and is far and away the best player on a team hoping to make the postseason for a third straight year.
Bonds has been pushing for this change all year, saying he might retire after the 2005 season if the team didn't commit to keeping him through the end of his contract.
Magowan said Saturday the team would talk to Bonds about 2007 later.
Bonds, a six-time NL MVP, became the third player to reach 700 home runs last Friday night against the San Diego Padres. He added his 701st the next day and entered Tuesday night's game against the Houston Astros with 43 on the season, third most in the majors despite a major league record 208 walks.
Bonds is on pace to pass Babe Ruth (714) for second place early next year and could close in on Aaron's mark late in 2005 or early 2006.
The Giants entered Tuesday with a half-game lead in the NL wild-card race, mostly because of Bonds. Despite playing in a pitchers' park and with no other offensive superstars, San Francisco is second in the NL with 787 runs for the season.
Along with the walks record and home runs, Bonds leads the majors with a .372 batting average and is second with 120 runs. He is closing on a record with his .610 on-base percentage - 28 points higher than the mark he set in 2002 - and has an .827 slugging percentage. Bonds and Babe Ruth are the only players to top that mark.