Rays/MLB

Agent says Bonds will return, plans to talk to Giants

By TIMES WIRES
Published September 28, 2006

Barry Bonds intends to continue his chase of the career home run record next season, his agent told the Los Angeles Times.

"Barry's going to play in 2007," Jeff Borris of Beverly Hills Sports Council told the paper. "I've had many discussions with Barry and he's going to play. My intentions are to see to it he's in a big-league uniform next season. Those are my marching orders."

Contract talks with the Giants could begin next week, ESPN.com reported.

Bonds, in the final season of a five-year, $90-million contract, is playing sparingly in the season's final week because of left elbow pain now that the Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention.

"I have every reason to believe the Giants will contact me as soon as the season ends," Borris told the Times.

Bonds, 42, has 734 home runs, 21 behind career leader Hank Aaron. After an offseason spent focusing on his troublesome knees, he got off to a slow start but has improved steadily and is hitting .382 (34-for-89) with 10 home runs, 26 RBIs and 18 walks in his past 28 games.

YANKS PICK WANG: Right-hander Chien-Ming Wang will start New York's playoff opener Tuesday and be followed by right-hander Mike Mussina in Game 2.

Left-hander Randy Johnson, bothered by a bad back, will pitch Game 3 on the road, Yankees manager Joe Torre said. Torre didn't say whether Jaret Wright or Cory Lidle would start Game 4, if it's needed.

SALMON NEARS END: Tim Salmon, 39, who has spent all 15 of his big-league seasons with the Angels, will retire after the season, the team announced.

A news conference with Salmon is scheduled for 6:30 tonight.

Salmon, a rightfielder most of his career who has been almost exclusively a DH this season, will end his career as the longest-tenured member of the Angels.

He is the franchise leader in home runs (298), runs (983) and walks (966). He also owns three single-season club records, including home runs (31) by a rookie. He was the AL Rookie of the Year in 1993.

In 1,667 career games, Salmon has a .282 batting average, a .385 on-base percentage and a .499 slugging percentage.

NATIONALS: Rightfielder Austin Kearns was out of the starting lineup for a fourth straight game since he hurt his side Saturday in a collision that left first baseman Nick Johnson with a broken leg.

PIRATES: Rookie right-hander Ian Snell, one victory short of becoming the team's first 15-game winner in seven years, will miss Sunday's scheduled start against Cincinnati because of tightness in his pitching elbow.

OBITUARY: Former Twins first baseman Craig Kusick died after a long bout with leukemia. He was three days from his 58th birthday. The Twins held a moment of silence for Mr. Kusick, who played for the team from 1973-79.

[Last modified September 28, 2006, 01:48:31]