Bonds’ deal still not final

NEW YORK — Barry Bonds’ contract with the San Francisco Giants isn’t final just yet.

After the commissioner’s office rejected Bonds’ $15.8-million, one-year deal because it contained a personal-appearance provision, the team sent revised documents to his agent, Jeff Borris.

“At this time, Barry is not signing the new documents,” Borris said.

Baseball’s Uniform Player Contract states a player “agrees to cooperate with the club in any and all reasonable promotional activities.” Bonds’ contract had additional language that the commissioner’s office rejected.

Borris did not detail the provisions in dispute, but a baseball executive, speaking on condition of anonymity because these details had not been made public, said they dealt with personal appearances.

Giants executives did not immediately return telephone calls seeking comment.

Bonds and the Giants, who agreed to financial terms Dec. 7, said Monday the drawn-out agreement had been finalized.

Still, they disagree on the meaning of an unusual provision in the deal relating to Bonds’ potential legal problems. In the contract, a list of criminal acts is spelled out in a section.

The Giants want to protect themselves if Bonds is charged in the federal government’s steroids investigation. Borris says the provision is unenforceable.