Bonds and Giants agree to one-year, $16-million deal

Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants reached agreement on a one-year, $16-million contract Thursday night that will keep the controversial slugger in the Bay Area to take aim at baseball’s home run record.

The deal includes four performance bonuses that could make the pact worth a total of $20 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said.

While Oakland, San Diego and St. Louis showed interest in signing the 42-year-old free agent, the Giants had been considered the front-runners.

Bonds has 734 home runs and is 22 from breaking Hank Aaron’s career record. He has played 14 seasons for the Giants and is coming off a five-year, $90-million contract.

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The Kansas City Royals agreed to terms with right-hander Gil Meche on a five-year deal worth $55 million. Meche has a 55-44 record with a 4.65 earned-run average in 147 games, all with Seattle. The Royals also released right-hander Runelvys Hernandez, who was 6-10 with a 6.48 ERA in 21 starts last season.

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The Atlanta Braves swapped a starting pitcher for bullpen help, sending oft-injured left-hander Horacio Ramirez to the Seattle Mariners for reliever Rafael Soriano. Ramirez went 5-5 with a 4.48 ERA in 14 starts in 2006, making three trips to the disabled list. Soriano, who recovered from major elbow surgery in August 2004, was 1-2 with a 2.25 ERA and two saves in 53 appearances last season.

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First baseman and former Angel J.T. Snow announced his retirement after a 15-year career, and he will rejoin the San Francisco Giants as a radio broadcaster and roving minor league instructor.... Tampa Bay released right-handed reliever Travis Harper, who was 2-0 with a 4.93 ERA last season.... Chicago Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry underwent an angioplasty at an Orlando, Fla., hospital and was recovering. He is expected to be released from the hospital today.... First baseman Daryle Ward reached a preliminary agreement with the Cubs on a one-year, $1.05-million deal.... The New York Mets re-signed reliever Guillermo Mota to a two-year, $5-million contract.... Two free agents accepted salary arbitration offers from their former teams before the deadline: infielders Tony Graffanino of Milwaukee and Todd Walker of San Diego.