Bonds' agent concedes slugger's playing days are over

(12-10) 04:00 PDT Indianapolis --

Barry Bonds' agent finally acknowledged Wednesday that the home run king is done playing baseball.

"It's two years since he played his last game, and if there was any chance he'd be back in a major-league uniform, it would have happened by now," agent Jeff Borris told The Chronicle. "When 2008 came around, I couldn't get him a job. When 2009 came around, I couldn't get him a job. Now, 2010 ... I'd say it's nearly impossible. It's an unfortunate ending to a storied career."

Technically, Bonds hasn't retired, and he repeatedly has said he won't retire, leaving open the outside chance that some team will call.

Bonds, 45, last played in 2007, when he led the National League in on-base percentage (.480), walks (132) and intentional walks (43). He hit .276 with 28 homers and 66 RBIs but received zero job offers for 2008 while under an indictment accusing him of lying to a federal grand jury about never knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs.

"I'm sure if they gave him two weeks in a cage, he'd be hitting amongst the best in the game right now," Borris said. "But Major League Baseball will never give him that chance."

Borris wouldn't address a possible collusion case against MLB, but the players' union continues to consider it.

In 23 seasons, Bonds had 762 homers, 1,996 RBIs and a .444 on-base percentage.

"If they would have let Barry play baseball until his on-base percentage dropped below .400, he probably would've been playing until he was 56," Borris said.

E-mail John Shea at jshea@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle