Bonds camp no-show for ‘personal stuff’

One day after contradicting reports that Barry Bonds was either ready to retire after the season or set to play 10 more years, the San Francisco star did not show up Monday on the voluntary reporting date for Giants players.

Bonds told the team last week through his agent that he would come a day or two later because he needed to get some “personal stuff straightened out,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. The mandatory reporting date is Feb. 28.

“Given the fact that Barry didn’t play practically the entire season last year, we’d like to see him here early,” manager Felipe Alou said. “But we can’t bring a guy here by force before the first of March.”

Alou expects the 41-year-old outfielder to be in camp today in Scottsdale, Ariz., and has him listed in the first group of hitters for batting practice.

In Fort Lauderdale, Fla., All-Star second baseman Brian Roberts said he could miss the Baltimore Orioles’ season opener because of the elbow injury that cut short his finest season in the major leagues five months ago.

The Orioles’ leadoff hitter set career highs in batting average (.314), homers (18) and RBIs (73) before dislocating his left elbow in a collision at first base during a Sept. 20 game against the New York Yankees. Roberts also tore a tendon and a ligament on the play.

At Vero Beach, Fla., Dodgers closer Eric Gagne threw off a mound for the second time in spring training. Gagne, the 2003 N.L. Cy Young Award winner, is recovering from elbow surgery June 24.

“I was impressed with his velocity,” catcher Pat Borders said. “He lived up to the billing that I’ve heard.”

Arbitration numbers split

The 100 players in salary arbitration will average $2.66 million this year, and Florida’s Dontrelle Willis will get the highest percentage increase, an 11-fold raise to $4.35 million.

The average raise for the players in arbitration was 109 percent, according to a study by the Associated Press, down from 123 percent last year and the lowest percentage rise since a 92 percent hike in 2003.

It was the second straight year the average salary in arbitration dropped, with last year’s average of $2.8 million down from a record $3.26 million in 2004.

Just six players went to hearings, double last year’s total. Owners defeated players 4-2, management’s 10th straight winning season, and lead players 269-200 since arbitration began in 1974.

Willis, one of the few veterans the Marlins didn’t let loose, was eligible for arbitration for the first time and went from a $378,500 salary last year to $4.35 million this season.

Only one player in arbitration got a pay cut. Oakland pitcher Juan Cruz went from $600,000 to $575,000.

Fourteen players received multiyear contracts, down one from last year and well below the recent high of 27 in 2001.