Bonds Will Sit Out Home Run Derby

San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds won’t participate in the Home Run Derby before the All-Star game Tuesday at Chicago’s U.S. Cellular Field.

When asked why he won’t participate, Bonds told a group of reporters, “Because I’m a grown man and I don’t have to do it.”

“Did Michael Jordan play in the slamfest every year?” Bonds said. “Nobody asked him why. I’m 30-something years old. They didn’t even ask me. Go ahead and get mad at me. Say what you want, but no.”

The Chicago Cubs’ Sammy Sosa, not picked for the All-Star game, also won’t participate in the derby.

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New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter and second baseman Alfonso Soriano were nursing hand injuries and did not play against Cleveland.

Jeter and Soriano were hit with pitches by Boston’s Pedro Martinez on Monday, and the Yankees decided to take the safe route.

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Oakland put outfielder Jermaine Dye on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, because of a separated right shoulder suffered during a collision at the plate with Angel catcher Bengie Molina on Sunday.

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San Diego’s Phil Nevin will begin a rehabilitation assignment Monday with Class-A Lake Elsinore and hopes to rejoin the Padres on July 29 at Pittsburgh. He also will rehab at triple-A Portland.

Nevin has been out since dislocating his left shoulder during a spring training game March 7.

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Toronto Manager Carlos Tosca plans to call the Angels’ Mike Scioscia, the American League All-Star game manager, and ask him not to use Blue Jay pitcher Roy Halladay in the game Tuesday.

Halladay will pitch Saturday against the East-leading Yankees and is scheduled to start against second-place Boston on July 17.