Giants re-sign Barry Bonds for $16M

Outfielder Barry Bonds agreed late Thursday to one-year, $16-million US contract with the San Francisco Giants.

Four performance incentives reportedly make the pact worth a potential $20 million US.

Bonds, 42, was paid $22 million US last season in the final year of a five-year, $90-million US deal he signed Jan. 14, 2002.

The controversial slugger overcame elbow problems and sore knees to hit .270 with 26 home runs, 77 runs batted in and 74 runs scored in 130 games.

Along the way, he moved past Babe Ruth into second place on the all-time homer list with 734 and to within 21 of Hank Aaron's major-league record of 755.

Bonds clubbed 73 homers in 2001 to eclipse Mark McGwire's single-season high of 70 set in 1998.

Bonds is the most prolific slugger of this generation with a .299 batting average, 1,930 runs batted in and 2,152 runs scored in 2,860 games over 21 MLB seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Giants.

He's also stolen 509 bases and tops all major-leaguers with 2,426 walks.

Bonds has earned an unprecedented seven National League Most Valuable Player Awards, 12 Silver Slugger Awards, and eight Gold Glove Awards.

Yet all of his accomplishments are shrouded in a cloud of suspicion because Bonds is suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs.

But Bonds remains a fan favourite in San Francisco, which is hosting the 2007 MLB All-Star Game and banking on him generating plenty of interest as he takes aim at Aaron's record.