The AP’s Janie McCauley reports that Barry Bonds will file for free agency as soon as possible, which, under baseball’s new collective bargaining agreement, means today. No word on a Hank Aaron offer for the Braves yet.


The seven-time NL MVP’s $90 million, five-year contract is up with San Francisco. He had indicated he would like to return to the Giants, but that was before owner Peter Magowan said on Oct. 2 that if Bonds returns No. 25 will no longer be the centerpiece for this franchise.

“We haven’t engaged. I don’t know what their disposition is,” general manager Brian Sabean said after the team introduced Bruce Bochy as the club’s new manager Friday.

Bonds has spent 14 of his 21 big league seasons with San Francisco and helped the Giants draw 3 million fans in all seven seasons of their waterfront ballpark’s existence.

Bonds has 734 home runs, 22 from breaking Hank Aaron’s career record of 755. After missing all but 14 games in 2005 following three operations on his right knee, Bonds batted .270 with 26 homers and 77 RBIs in 367 at-bats in 2006.

“Obviously he has an affection for San Francisco and I think he would be back,” Giants first baseman Mark Sweeney said.

Bonds likely will be interested in gauging the interest of the Los Angeles Angels and Dodgers. He lives in Southern California in Beverly Hills.