Union may file Bonds grievance

NEW YORK -- The players’ union anticipates filing a grievance claiming owners improperly acted in concert to keep Barry Bonds out of the major leagues this season, a source familiar with the matter said late Tuesday.

No final decision has been made, the source said, but the union is leaning toward filing a grievance. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly in advance of a decision.

Commissioner Bud Selig, speaking earlier Tuesday in a news conference with baseball writers, rejected any suggestion that owners colluded to freeze out Bonds.

“Every club is free to do what they want to do,” Selig said. “I’m not going to respond to those charges. They’re without basis.”

Rob Manfred, baseball’s executive vice president for labor relations, said he had looked into the matter upon the union’s request.

“We have not found any indication of anything other than clubs making individual decisions that this player is not appropriate for them,” Manfred said.

Bonds, who turns 44 next week, hit .276 with 28 home runs and a .480 on-base percentage last year, a season in which he set the all-time home run record. He since has been indicted on charges that he lied to a federal grand jury by testifying he never had used steroids.

Jeff Borris, the agent for Bonds, said Monday that he had received no offers for Bonds, not even for baseball’s minimum wage. Manfred acknowledged that Bonds’ production as recently as last season could make his unemployment appear unusual.

“There are a variety of factors surrounding this individual that might make a club hesitant,” Manfred said.

Greg Bouris, a spokesman for the union, declined to comment late Tuesday.

All-Star tribute

As part of a stirring farewell to Yankee Stadium, each All-Star starter jogged to his position, where he lined up with a group of Hall of Famers who played that position.

After introductions, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner rode around the warning track in a golf cart, then delivered the balls for the ceremonial first pitches to the mound. Steinbrenner, 78 and believed to be in poor health, did not leave the cart or speak publicly.

Yankees Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Rich Gossage and Reggie Jackson each threw a first pitch, with Yankees All-Stars Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and Alex Rodriguez and Yankees Manager Joe Girardi catching.

In the pregame introductions, as the Yankees drew the biggest and longest cheers and the Boston Red Sox drew boos, the crowd saluted a man who was not here with a loud and heartfelt ovation. Bob Sheppard, 97, the Yankee Stadium public address announcer since 1951, is home recuperating from illness.

Star turns

The Angels’ All-Star contingent of pitchers -- Joe Saunders, Ervin Santana and Francisco Rodriguez -- each appeared in the game.

Saunders pitched a scoreless third inning. Santana worked the fifth, giving up a solo home run to Matt Holliday of the Colorado Rockies and striking out two.

Rodriguez pitched to the first two batters in the ninth, then yielded to Rivera so the Yankees’ closer could be assured of pitching in the final All-Star game at Yankee Stadium.

Catcher Russell Martin, the Dodgers’ sole All-Star, entered the game in the fifth inning and was replaced by Atlanta’s Brian McCann in the 15th inning. Martin went one for three, a single off Rivera.

Long way here

Saunders showed up wearing a weary smile Tuesday. His wife gave birth to the couple’s first child Saturday night, and he hardly has slept since.

He initially thought he would rejoin the Angels in Oakland for his scheduled Sunday start, then thought of his wife and thought better of it. “Leaving her behind with a brand new baby, it was too soon,” Saunders said.

He booked a red-eye flight from LAX to New York on Sunday night, but that turned out to be too soon as well. So he re-booked on a nonstop flight from Orange County on Monday morning, but that flight was delayed so long that he headed to Long Beach and caught a flight there, arriving in time to catch Josh Hamilton’s magic show in the home run derby.

“Still running on fumes,” he said. “I was kind of anxious. I didn’t know if I was going to miss something. I was trying to get here as soon as possible and enjoy everything.”

All for one

Martin said the story line dividing the Dodgers into young players and old players is last year’s news and does nothing to explain the team’s struggles this season.

“Everybody feels like they’re part of the team this year,” he said. “There haven’t been any incidents where somebody yells at somebody. We’re just trying to find a way to win. It has nothing to do with being young or being old.”

General Manager Ned Colletti and owner Frank McCourt have indicated the Dodgers would consider trading one or two players from a young core that has remained intact for the last three years, despite interest from numerous potential trading partners.

“I think we have everything on the team to get to where we want to be,” Martin said. “I don’t make decisions like that, but we’ve got a lot of talent.”

Short hops

Pitcher Tim Lincecum did not attend the game. The San Francisco Giants said he was hospitalized briefly Tuesday because of flu and dehydration. . . . Selig says there is “a chance” baseball will adopt instant replay before the playoffs. “Once we’re convinced the bugs are out, it could come quickly,” he said. . . . Dodgers fan/baseball blogger/actor Alyssa Milano wore a pair of jeans she designed as part of her baseball-themed collection for women, with the Dodgers logo decorating the right rear pocket.

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bill.shaikin@latimes.com