Barry Bonds still keen to play for Giants

Outfielder Barry Bonds filed for free agency Monday, officially ending his 15-year tenure with the San Francisco Giants. Then again, maybe not.

Bonds, 43, was told last month that he would not be asked to return to San Francisco, where fans watched him break baseball's most cherished records with 73 home runs in a single season and 762 in a career.

Even so, the controversial slugger, who is suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs, isn't ruling out a possible return to the Giants next season.

"I told [Giants owner] Peter Magowan, 'If I'm a part-time player, I'm still better than your full-time player and it's a wise idea to keep me,'" Bonds told about 450 fans at a speaking forum last week.

"We still have time. Things might change."

Bonds hit numerous milestone home runs in his hometown, including Nos. 500, 600, 661 to overtake Willie Mays, 700, and 715 to move by the late Babe Ruth into second place on the all-time list.

He also belted the final three of his 73 home runs in 2001 at AT&T Park, eclipsing Mark McGwire's single-season record of 70, and, of course, career home run No. 756 to break Hank Aaron's mark on Aug. 7.

Re-signed in January

Bonds signed Jan. 29 with San Francisco for $15.8 million US, including an additional $4.2 million US in performance bonuses.

He hit .276 with 28 home runs, 66 runs batted in, 75 runs scored and five stolen bases in 126 games last season.

Forty-two of his 94 hits went for extra bases.

Bonds is the most prolific slugger of his generation, boasting a .298 average, 762 HRs, 1,996 RBIs, 2,227 runs and 514 steals in 2,986 games over 22 MLB seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Giants.

He owns the major-league record of 2,558 career walks and an unprecedented seven National League Most Valuable Player Awards.