Bonds Misses First Workout

The San Francisco Giants gathered as a full team for the first time this year Tuesday in Scottsdale, Ariz., with players getting the chance to hit, field, run and throw together as they prepare for the start of the season.

There was one notable exception: Barry Bonds was nowhere to be found.

“It’s nice to see everybody -- not quite everybody,” Manager Felipe Alou. “It always feels good when you see all of those guys.”

Bonds, 47 homers behind Hank Aaron’s all-time record of 755, was a no-show at the first voluntary workout for position players. Bonds’ agent told the team last week that because of personal issues, the star would come a day or two later than his teammates, who showed up Monday.

Outfielder Moises Alou said Bonds, 41, had earned the right to miss the first workout and wasn’t concerned about when his teammate would arrive.

“To me, he can get here whenever he feels he is ready, because whenever he walks into this field he’ll perform the way Barry has performed all of the time,” Moises Alou said.

After Bonds had three knee operations and played only 14 games last year, the Giants are eager to learn what they can expect from him this season.

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Manny Ramirez was given permission by the Boston Red Sox to report to spring training March 1, six days after the team’s first full-squad workout and one day after Major League Baseball’s mandatory reporting date.

Ramirez asked the team through his agent to trade him during the off-season, but the Red Sox were unable to find a deal to their liking.

“Manny is in Florida completing an extensive training regimen and is prepared to have an exceptional season,” said a joint statement from Ramirez and the team that was released by the Red Sox.

“There are a lot of factors involved, some of them are personal, some are family-related,” General Manager Theo Epstein said. “He assured us that by staying in Miami and continuing to work with his personal trainer, continuing his regimen, that he wouldn’t be behind. In the end, after talking to him, we were OK with accommodating him. It’s not perfect, but we’re going to support him through this.”

Position players are due in town today, the day before the first workout.

Pitcher Curt Schilling said he wasn’t concerned about the delay granted to Ramirez, who batted .292 with 45 homers and 144 runs batted in last year.

“It happens all the time, guys all over the big leagues show up at different times,” he said. “He’ll be ready to play. Manny’s one of those guys who if he didn’t show up for spring training I’d still know he’d be ready for the season when the season started.”

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Gary Sheffield reported to spring training Tuesday and was upbeat after the Yankees said they would probably keep him around for 2007.

Sheffield is entering the final season of a $39-million, three-year contract, and the Yankees hold a $13-million option for 2007.

“You always want to earn whatever you get,” Sheffield said after meeting with General Manager Brian Cashman. “I take a lot pride in that. He didn’t have to bring me in today. I appreciate that. When I was a free agent, a lot of teams called and I really didn’t answer. There was only one place, and that still remains the same. I don’t want to play for nobody else but the Yankees.”

Sheffield, 37, was bothered by several physical ailments last season, including a thigh injury that hampered him in September. He still hit .291 with 34 homers and 123 RBIs in 154 games.

“I’m a year-at-a-time guy,” Sheffield said. “If I have a good year, go on the next one. I want to go out on a high note.”

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Given permission to report late to spring training because his father ailing, reliever Roberto Hernandez arrived in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ camp Tuesday. Pittsburgh signed Hernandez, 41, to a one-year contract worth $2.75 million, and he’ll help set up closer Mike Gonzalez .... First baseman Erubiel Durazo agreed to a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. Durazo, 32, who would get a $500,000 deal, had ligament replacement surgery in his left elbow in July, after hitting .237 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 41 games for Oakland.