Barry Bonds says he plans to retire after this season, even if he doesn't break Hank Aaron's home run record.
The San Francisco Giants star was limited to 14 games last year following three knee operations. He has 708 homers, trailing only Babe Ruth (714) and Aaron (755).
"I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," Bonds was quoted by USA Today in a story posted on its Web site Sunday.
"The game (isn't) fun anymore. I'm tired of all of the crap going on. I want to play this year out, hopefully win, and once the season is over, go home and be with my family. Maybe then everybody can just forget about me.
"Breaking these records aren't a big thing to me," he added. "It's a great honor to pass Ruth, but it means more to baseball than it does to me. History is good for every sport, and I'm creating great interest for the game."
Bonds, who turns 42 on July 24, said he plans to report Tuesday to San Francisco's spring training camp in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Giants said they would not comment on the report until they hear from Bonds directly. Manager Felipe Alou, speaking before the story was posted on the Internet, said he's looking forward to Bonds' arrival.
"I think everybody wants to see him," Alou said. "I haven't seen him since October, but we've talked on the phone. There's no urgency to talk except for the normal welcoming. There's a lot of time to discuss things."
Bonds needs 49 homers to surpass Aaron, a total Bonds has reached only in 2000, when he hit 49, and 2001, when he set the season record with 73.
"I've never cared about records anyway," Bonds said. "So what difference does it make? Right now, I'm telling you, I don't even want to play next year. Baseball is a fun sport. But I'm not having fun. I love the game of baseball itself, but I don't like what it's turned out to be. I'm not mad at anybody. It's just that right now I am not proud to be a baseball player."
Bonds can be moody and sometimes changes his mind. His agent, Jeff Borris, wouldn't say whether Bonds has discussed retirement with him
"I'd rather those conversations between Barry and myself remain private," Borris told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Bonds didn't play until Sept. 12 last year because he was recovering from the knee operations. He hit five homers in 42 at-bats.
Bonds told the newspaper he is taking pain pills and sleeping pills.
"I don't have a choice. I can't even run that much anymore. How can I run? I don't have any cartilage in that knee. I'm bone on bone," he said. "But I can still hit. I can rake. I can hit a baseball."
Bonds testified in 2003 before a federal grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution. The San Francisco Chronicle reported in December 2004 that Bonds testified he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer, but said he didn't know they were steroids.
Greg Anderson, the slugger's personal trainer, pleaded guilty last July to steroid distribution and money laundering, and in October was sentenced to three months in prison and three months in home confinement.
"I'm clean, I've always been clean," Bonds said.
Bonds, who is 6-foot-2, currently weighs 230 pounds, according to USA Today.
"I am still big. I'm fat. I can't do much," he said. "I can't train like I used to. So the weight stays. I'm just not a skinny person, dude, I'm not. I never will be. So what (are) they going to say now? Are they going to say, 'Wow, I guess it can't be steroids anymore because he didn't lose all that weight?' Or are they going to be mad that I'm fat. Come on, which one is it?"
At first, he said he planned to play for the United States in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, then changed his mind Jan. 24 and withdrew.
"I just don't want to do it," Bonds said. "Come on, the World Cup isn't the Olympics. Who cares? Does it mean anything? Is it going to cost me in endorsements? Whoop-de-doo. I never had any endorsements, anyways. I don't base my life on that. I go to work like every other American."
Bonds has an $18 million salary in the final season of his $90 million, five-year contract and will be eligible for free agency after the World Series.
He is close to reaching an agreement with ESPN for a weekly program.
"It's my show, dude," he told the newspaper. "It's not really a reality show. It's more like an autobiography through my years and what I'm doing now. They'll come into my house. They'll follow me around. They can go where they want. I don't care. I don't have nothing to hide. Let people see the real me. I think that's been my only downfall in all of this. I never let people know me. I just wanted to do my job."
The San Francisco Giants star was limited to 14 games last year following three knee operations. He has 708 homers, trailing only Babe Ruth (714) and Aaron (755).
"I'm not playing baseball anymore after this," Bonds was quoted by USA Today in a story posted on its Web site Sunday.
"The game (isn't) fun anymore. I'm tired of all of the crap going on. I want to play this year out, hopefully win, and once the season is over, go home and be with my family. Maybe then everybody can just forget about me.
"Breaking these records aren't a big thing to me," he added. "It's a great honor to pass Ruth, but it means more to baseball than it does to me. History is good for every sport, and I'm creating great interest for the game."
Bonds, who turns 42 on July 24, said he plans to report Tuesday to San Francisco's spring training camp in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Giants said they would not comment on the report until they hear from Bonds directly. Manager Felipe Alou, speaking before the story was posted on the Internet, said he's looking forward to Bonds' arrival.
"I think everybody wants to see him," Alou said. "I haven't seen him since October, but we've talked on the phone. There's no urgency to talk except for the normal welcoming. There's a lot of time to discuss things."
Bonds needs 49 homers to surpass Aaron, a total Bonds has reached only in 2000, when he hit 49, and 2001, when he set the season record with 73.
"I've never cared about records anyway," Bonds said. "So what difference does it make? Right now, I'm telling you, I don't even want to play next year. Baseball is a fun sport. But I'm not having fun. I love the game of baseball itself, but I don't like what it's turned out to be. I'm not mad at anybody. It's just that right now I am not proud to be a baseball player."
Bonds can be moody and sometimes changes his mind. His agent, Jeff Borris, wouldn't say whether Bonds has discussed retirement with him
"I'd rather those conversations between Barry and myself remain private," Borris told The Associated Press on Sunday.
Bonds didn't play until Sept. 12 last year because he was recovering from the knee operations. He hit five homers in 42 at-bats.
Bonds told the newspaper he is taking pain pills and sleeping pills.
"I don't have a choice. I can't even run that much anymore. How can I run? I don't have any cartilage in that knee. I'm bone on bone," he said. "But I can still hit. I can rake. I can hit a baseball."
Bonds testified in 2003 before a federal grand jury investigating illegal steroids distribution. The San Francisco Chronicle reported in December 2004 that Bonds testified he used a clear substance and a cream given to him by a trainer, but said he didn't know they were steroids.
Greg Anderson, the slugger's personal trainer, pleaded guilty last July to steroid distribution and money laundering, and in October was sentenced to three months in prison and three months in home confinement.
"I'm clean, I've always been clean," Bonds said.
Bonds, who is 6-foot-2, currently weighs 230 pounds, according to USA Today.
"I am still big. I'm fat. I can't do much," he said. "I can't train like I used to. So the weight stays. I'm just not a skinny person, dude, I'm not. I never will be. So what (are) they going to say now? Are they going to say, 'Wow, I guess it can't be steroids anymore because he didn't lose all that weight?' Or are they going to be mad that I'm fat. Come on, which one is it?"
At first, he said he planned to play for the United States in the inaugural World Baseball Classic, then changed his mind Jan. 24 and withdrew.
"I just don't want to do it," Bonds said. "Come on, the World Cup isn't the Olympics. Who cares? Does it mean anything? Is it going to cost me in endorsements? Whoop-de-doo. I never had any endorsements, anyways. I don't base my life on that. I go to work like every other American."
Bonds has an $18 million salary in the final season of his $90 million, five-year contract and will be eligible for free agency after the World Series.
He is close to reaching an agreement with ESPN for a weekly program.
"It's my show, dude," he told the newspaper. "It's not really a reality show. It's more like an autobiography through my years and what I'm doing now. They'll come into my house. They'll follow me around. They can go where they want. I don't care. I don't have nothing to hide. Let people see the real me. I think that's been my only downfall in all of this. I never let people know me. I just wanted to do my job."
