Interest in Bonds Appears Minimal

Barry Bonds might want to play for the Angels, but the feeling is not mutual. Neither owner Arte Moreno nor General Manager Bill Stoneman is interested in pursuing a trade for Bonds, according to organizational sources.

Although Bonds stands to challenge the all-time home run record next season, San Francisco Giant owner Peter Magowan recently told the Sacramento Bee the Giants “would explore trading Barry” if he asked them to do so. Bonds has said he might end his career as a designated hitter -- preferably for the Angels, because he has a home in Los Angeles.

The Giants would prefer to retain Bonds, who needs 12 home runs to pass Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time list and 53 to pass Hank Aaron for first. They would not trade him simply to dump his $18-million salary next season.

The Angels would shy away from giving up premium talent in return and assuming that guaranteed salary, in part because Bonds is 41 and has not played this season after three operations on his right knee. They also would be wary of locking Bonds into a DH slot they might need for outfielder Garret Anderson if his injuries recur.

In addition, sources said, Moreno and Stoneman emphasize clubhouse culture and would not make the concessions to Bonds that the Giants have. The Giants permit Bonds to keep a row of lockers for himself and earlier this season assigned an intern to block reporters from approaching him.

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After hitting no home runs in his first 44 major league games, first baseman Casey Kotchman has seven in his last 22. He has hit a home run once every 10.7 at-bats this season. Atlanta’s Andruw Jones, who leads the majors with 44 home runs, has homered once every 11.4 at-bats.

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Center fielder Steve Finley, in his first appearance since the Angels benched him last week, batted ninth for the first time since Sept. 3, 1990. The Baltimore Orioles traded him to the Houston Astros in 1991, and he played in the National League -- where pitchers bat ninth -- until joining the Angels this season. ... Second baseman Adam Kennedy and first baseman Darin Erstad got the day off. Kennedy is hitless in his last 19 at-bats and has not had an extra-base hit since Aug. 11. ... Vladimir Guerrero was the designated hitter for the second time in three days, which Manager Mike Scioscia said indicated a desire to get him off his feet, not an injury. “Everyone in there, their legs get a little tired from time to time,” Scioscia said. ... Outfielder Jeff DaVanon has one at-bat in the last 13 games.