Barry Bonds and San Francisco Break Up

The Giants have officially decided that they won't be bringing Barry Bonds back next season. They told Bonds about the decision yesterday and they'll tell the world during a press conference later tonight. But you don't have to wait -- you can read the news from Bonds himself, posted on his MLB.com journal:

Yesterday, I was told by the Giants that they will not be bringing me back for the 2008 season. During the conversation with Peter McGowan I was told that my play this year far exceeded any expectations the Giants had, but that the organization decided this year would be my last season in San Francisco. Although I am disappointed, I've always said baseball is a business -- and I respect their decision. However, I am saddened and upset that I was not given an earlier opportunity to properly say goodbye to you, my fans, and celebrate with the city throughout the season as I truly believe this was not a last minute decision by the Giants, but one that was made some time ago. I don't have nor do I want any ill feelings towards the organization, I just wish I had known sooner so we had more time to say our goodbyes and celebrate the best 15 years of my life.

In other words, the Giants just told Bonds, "It's not you, it's me. I just ... I just want to see other people." To be fair, it was hard not to see this coming, especially the way the Giants danced around last winter hedging and hawing about whether they wanted to bring him back -- and that was knowing the crowds he'd draw as he approached Hank Aaron's record. Now that the record is in the books, they're moving on.

Don't doubt for a second that he's not going to play in 2008, though. He's just 65 hits away from 3,000 for his career, and there may not be another player in this game as motivated by gaudy numbers as he is. As comfortable as he is with National League parks and pitchers, don't be surprised if he jumps to the American League, where he could prolong his career by at least another year or two serving as a full-time DH.