MLB scraps Bonds campaign

Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2004 | 11:09 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Major League Baseball halted plans Tuesday to promote Barry Bonds' pursuit of the home run record, one day after Topps signed him to an endorsement deal.

Major League Baseball had been negotiating corporate sponsorship of Bonds' pursuit of Hank Aaron's career home run record, but a meeting on the subject was canceled after reports that Bonds told a grand jury that he might have unknowingly used substances believed to be steroids.

Scott Kurstin, Bonds' account manager, said none of the player's existing individual sponsors had wavered and that Topps signed an agreement with Bonds on Monday.

If Major League Baseball cannot promote Bonds' home run chase, it is clear that steroids will be part of the cause. Bob DuPuy, baseball's chief operating officer, said Tuesday: "We continue to assess the ramifications that these issues will have."

The Yankees also reached a preliminary agreement with Tony Womack on a $4 million, two-year contract.

NEW YORK -- The 41 free agents who were offered salary arbitration Tuesday and 129 who were not:

OFFERED

AMERICAN LEAGUE

BOSTON, 9 -- Pedro Astacio, rhp; Orlando Cabrera, ss; x-Gabe Kapler, of; Derek Lowe, rhp; Pedro Martinez, rhp; Dave McCarty, 1b; Mike Myers, lhp; Pokey Reese, 2b; Jason Varitek, c.

MINNESOTA, 3 -- x-Henry Blanco, c; Corey Koskie, 3b; Terry Mulholland, lhp.

NEW YORK, 3 -- Orlando Hernandez, rhp; Jon Lieber, rhp; Ruben Sierra, dh.

SEATTLE, 1 -- Ron Villone, lhp.

TEXAS, 1 -- David Dellucci, of.

TORONTO, 1 -- Gregg Zaun, c.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA, 1 -- Richie Sexson, 1b.

ATLANTA, 3 -- Paul Byrd, rhp; Julio Franco, 1b; Jaret Wright, rhp.

CHICAGO, 2 -- Matt Clement, rhp; Todd Hollandsworth, of.

COLORADO, 2 -- Todd Greene, c; Jamey Wright, rhp.

FLORIDA, 2 -- Carl Pavano, rhp; Ismael Valdez, rhp.

HOUSTON, 2 -- Carlos Beltran, of; Roger Clemens, p.

LOS ANGELES, 4 -- Wilson Alvarez, lhp; Adrian Beltre, 3b; Brent Mayne, c; Odalis Perez, lhp.

PHILADELPHIA, 2 -- Doug Glanville, of; Placido Polanco, 2b.

ST. LOUIS, 3 -- Mike Matheny, c; Edgar Renteria, ss; Tony Womack, 2b.

SAN DIEGO, 1 -- David Wells, lhp.

SAN FRANCISCO, 1 -- Jason Christiansen, lhp.

NOT OFFERED

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ANAHEIM, 4 -- Andres Galarraga, dh; Troy Glaus, dh; Shane Halter, 3b; Aaron Sele, rhp.

BALTIMORE, 4 -- Marty Cordova, dh; Omar Daal, lhp; Buddy Groom, lhp; David Segui, dh.

BOSTON, 6 -- Terry Adams, rhp; Ellis Burks, dh; Ricky Gutierrez, 2b; Curtis Leskanic, rhp; Ramiro Mendoza, rhp; Scott Williamson, rhp.

CHICAGO, 4 -- Roberto Alomar, 2b; Sandy Alomar Jr, c; Magglio Ordonez, of; Jose Valentin, ss.

CLEVELAND, 1 -- Rick White, rhp.

DETROIT, 2 -- Alan Levine, rhp; Esteban Yan, rhp.

KANSAS CITY, 4 -- Juan Gonzalez, of; Joe Randa, 3b; Desi Relaford, 3b; Kelly Stinnett, c.

NEW YORK, 7 -- Miguel Cairo, 2b; Tony Clark, 1b; Travis Lee, 1b; Esteban Loaiza, rhp; C.J. Nitkowski, lhp; John Olerud, 1b; Enrique Wilson, 2b.

OAKLAND, 4 -- Jermaine Dye, of; Chris Hammond, lhp; Jim Mecir, rhp; Mark McLemore, 2b.

SEATTLE, 1 -- Edgar Martinez, dh.

TAMPA BAY, 5 -- Brook Fordyce, c; John Halama, lhp; Tino Martinez, 1b; Todd Ritchie, rhp; Rey Sanchez, 2b.

TEXAS, 11 -- Manny Alexander, 2b; Andy Fox, 3b; Brad Fullmer, dh; Rusty Greer, of; Brian Jordan, of; Jeff Nelson, rhp; Herbert Perry, dh; Jay Powell, rhp; John Wasdin, rhp; Eric Young, of; Jeff Zimmerman, rhp.

TORONTO, 5 -- Dave Berg, of; Valerio De Los Santos, lhp; Carlos Delgado, 1b; Chris Gomez, ss; Pat Hentgen, rhp.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA, 10 -- Carlos Baerga, 1b; Danny Bautista, of; Greg Colbrunn, 1b; Jeff Fassero, lhp; Mike Fetters, rhp; Matt Mantei, rhp; Quinton McCracken, of; Shane Reynolds, rhp; Scott Service, rhp; Steve Sparks, rhp.

ATLANTA, 3 -- Antonio Alfonseca, rhp; J.D. Drew, of; Russ Ortiz, rhp.

CHICAGO, 7 -- Moises Alou, of; Paul Bako, c; Tom Goodwin, of; Ben Grieve, of; Mark Grudzielanek, 2b; Ramon Martinez, ss; Kent Mercker, lhp.

CINCINNATI, 4 -- Darren Bragg, of; Barry Larkin, ss; Todd Van Poppel, rhp; Gabe White, lhp.

COLORADO, 5 -- Jeromy Burnitz, of; Royce Clayton, ss; Shawn Estes, lhp; Steve Reed, rhp; Mark Sweeney, of.

FLORIDA, 5 -- Wil Cordero, 1b; Chad Fox, rhp; Josias Manzanillo, rhp; Mike Mordecai, 3b; David Weathers, rhp.

HOUSTON, 3 -- Jeff Kent, 2b; Dan Miceli, rhp; Darren Oliver, lhp.

LOS ANGELES, 8 -- Elmer Dessens, rhp; Steve Finley, of; Jose Hernandez, 2b; Todd Hundley, c; Jose Lima, rhp; Hideo Nomo, rhp; Paul Shuey, rhp; Robin Ventura, 1b.

MILWAUKEE, 1 -- Craig Counsell, ss.

MONTREAL, 2 -- Tony Batista, 3b; Einar Diaz, c.

NEW YORK, 6 -- Ricky Bottalico, rhp; John Franco, lhp; Richard Hidalgo, of; Al Leiter, lhp; Mo Vaughn, 1b; Todd Zeile, 1b.

PHILADELPHIA, 4 -- Roberto Hernandez, rhp; Todd Jones, rhp; Kevin Millwood, rhp; Eric Milton, lhp.

PITTSBURGH, 1 -- Brian Boehringer, rhp.

ST. LOUIS, 3 -- Steve Kline, lhp; Ray Lankford, of; Woody Williams, rhp.

SAN DIEGO, 6 -- Andy Ashby, rhp; Rich Aurilia, ss; Robert Fick, dh; Alex Gonzalez, ss; Dave Hansen, 1b; Antonio Osuna, rhp.

SAN FRANCISCO, 3 -- Dave Burba, rhp; Dustin Hermanson, rhp; Robb Nen, rhp. x-agreed to sign with another team