The Major League Baseball Players Association is defending embattled slugger Barry Bonds, saying the club's owners colluded to keep him from returning to the game, MLB.com reported on its website.
The union will not file the grievance immediately with the Commissioner's Office, however, agreeing to hold it until an unspecified date.
Bonds sought the union's help in May when he was not able to find a taker for his services despite his 762 career home runs. He did not play this season.
Bonds agent said he has not given up hopes of playing again.
"I don't think his love for the game has disappeared," Jeff Borris said. "I think he would love to play baseball if given the opportunity.
"If that would've happened, though, I think it would've happened in 2008. I don't see anything changing in 2009."
Bonds is facing 14 counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice in a case regarding his alleged use of performance-enhancing drugs that was brought against him by the federal attorney's office in San Francisco. That case is scheduled to go to trial on March 2, 2009.
Copyright 2008 AFP Global Edition
