Which AL team would like to take a shot at letting Barry Bonds wear their uniform for his 3000th hit and/or 800th HR? Though I’m hoping it’ll be the Orioles —given their terrific track record of signing character guys in their prime — there’s always the chance that today’s announcements, as described by the SF Chronicle’s Henry Shulman, are a prelude to the Sultan Of Surly’s final farewell.

The Giants will announce at 5 p.m. today that Barry Bonds will not return next season, ending his career in San Francisco after 15 remarkable seasons.Bonds upstaged the Giants on his Web site, with the following entry:

“This journal will be one of my last entries as a San Francisco Giant. Yesterday, I was told by the Giants that they will not be bringing me back for the 2008 season,” Bonds wrote. “During the conversation with Peter Magowan, I was told that my play this year far exceeded any expectations the Giants had, but that the organization decided this year would be my last season in San Francisco.

“Although I am disappointed, I’ve always said baseball is a business , and I respect their decision. However, I am saddened and upset that I was not given an earlier opportunity to properly say goodbye to you, my fans, and celebrate with the city throughout the season as I truly believe this was not a last-minute decision by the Giants, but one that was made some time ago.

“I don’t have, nor do I want any ill feelings towards the organization, I just wish I had known sooner so we had more time to say our goodbyes and celebrate the best 15 years of my life.”

Though Bonds made mention of equipment manager Mike Murphy and Giants broadcasters Duane Kuiper and Mike Krukow in his goodbye address, he neglected to thank Greg Anderson.