Giants Take Bonds Off the Market

The San Francisco Giants removed Barry Bonds from the trading block, Newsday reported.

The Giants, who received only one recent, bona fide trade offer for Bonds, from the Baltimore Orioles, which was termed “laughable” by one Giant source, say they have convinced Bonds to stay by telling him they will try to quickly resurrect themselves.

Bonds and the Giants worked out their differences at a meeting late last week that included Bonds, his agent Dennis Gilbert, General Manager Brian Sabean and owner Peter Magowan.

“No matter who has interest, for whatever players, he’s off the market,” Sabean said. “We’re not even going to listen.”

The Giants also exercised their $1.7-million option on outfielder Glenallen Hill.

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Ruben Sierra, a key figure in the trade that sent Cecil Fielder to the New York Yankees, went to his third team of the year when the Cincinnati Reds acquired him from the Detroit Tigers for two low-level minor leaguers.

The Tigers agreed to pay most of Sierra’s $5.5-million salary for 1997, the final year on his five-year contract. The Tigers will pick up $4.875 million, leaving the Reds to pay $625,000.

The Reds gave up outfielder Decomba Conner, 23, who hit .281 for Class-A Winston-Salem last year, and pitcher Ben Bailey, 22, who was 10-11 with Winston-Salem and Charleston.

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The Atlanta Braves exercised their $5 million option for pitcher Tom Glavine, ensuring his return in 1997. . . . Pitcher Mark Clark’s $2.05-million option was exercised by the New York Mets, who decided they would rather have him back than pay a $27,500 buyout. . . . Colorado outfielder Ellis Burks agreed to a two-year contract worth $8.8 million. Burks, who was eligible for free agency, will receive a $600,000 signing bonus, $3.7 million in 1997 and $4.5 million in 1998.