The A's were Barry Bonds' best hope, the team that appeared most interested in signing him.

No more.
The A's, sources say, no longer are considering Bonds, who on Thursday was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice.
The withdrawal of the A's interest virtually ensures that Bonds will be without a team to start next season. If the A's won't take Bonds, probably no club will.
Over the past several weeks, the A's had done their "due diligence" on Bonds, sources say, trying to determine whether he would be indicted while also investigating other concerns.
That's as far as it went.
A's officials are still deciding whether to build up or scale back in preparation for next season. Bonds, 43, might have been the centerpiece of Plan A, serving as the team's designated hitter.
Bonds' indictment, however, means he could miss much of next season. His trial likely will start at some point after Opening Day. If he is found guilty, he could be sentenced to prison.
"How can you aggressively pursue somebody when the availability of the player is in question?" says one source familiar with the A's. "How can you put a plan together when part of the plan wouldn't be there?" Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, declined comment.
The A's, under general manager Billy Beane, frequently value performance over personality. Beane would have drooled over Bonds' on-base/slugging percentage. The Bay Area is perhaps the only part of the country where Bonds is still accepted.

Ken Rosenthal

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