Bonds Has Surgery on Right Knee

Barry Bonds had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday and is expected to sit out much of spring training, but the San Francisco Giant slugger should recover in time to resume in April his chase of Hank Aaron’s career home run record.

The outfielder had a “minor arthritis cleanup,” the Giants said in statement.

Team trainer Stan Conte said that Bonds’ knees have responded well to similar arthroscopic operations.

Bonds, 40, finished last season with 703 career homers and trails Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714). He became the oldest player in major league history to win a most-valuable-player award. It was his seventh, all in the National League.

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The trade that would send Sammy Sosa from the Chicago Cubs to Baltimore took a step forward when the players’ association approved a key change to his contract that is required to complete the deal.

Chicago would receive Jerry Hairston Jr. and two minor league players in exchange for Sosa and $12 million.

Sosa’s contract has a provision that calls for the team’s $18-million option for 2006 to become guaranteed if he is traded and for a $19-million team option for 2007 to be added, one that would carry a $4.5-million buyout.

As part of the trade, Sosa would sign an addendum to his contract voiding that provision.

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Denny Neagle’s grievance against the Colorado Rockies to overturn the team’s termination of his contract will be heard April 14-15 by a baseball arbitrator.

Colorado terminated the pitcher’s contract Dec. 6, three days after he was issued a citation for solicitation.

Neagle pleaded not guilty last week to the charge.

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A group from Northern Virginia became the latest to submit an application to buy the Washington Nationals.

The newest candidate is American Baseball Capital, formerly the Virginia Baseball Club, the group that for more than a decade led a failed effort to bring a team to Northern Virginia.

The group is led by William Collins, former telecommunications executive.

At least five other applicants have been confirmed or reported as potential ownership groups.