Bonds's trial delayed indefinitely

Barry Bonds's perjury trial in San Francisco was delayed indefinitely yesterday after federal prosecutors notified the judge overseeing the case that they will appeal her decision to exclude key evidence from the jury.

Jury selection, which had been set to start Monday, "will not proceed until further notice," according to a filing by the clerk for US District Judge Susan Illston.

Prosecutors told Illston of their intention to appeal a couple of hours after Bonds's personal trainer, Greg Anderson, said at a court hearing that he would not testify. Illston had barred prosecutors from showing the jury three positive steroid tests allegedly belonging to Bonds and other vital evidence unless Anderson took the witness stand to authenticate them.

Bonds's attorneys argued against delaying the trial in a court filing late yesterday.

The Dodgers spoke to the agent for Manny Ramírez, and there is still no sign the sides are any closer to a deal.

The Dodgers announced Thursday that agent Scott Boras had declined the team's latest offer - a $25 million, one-year contract with a $20 million player option for 2010.

"I talked to Scott a couple of hours ago," general manager Ned Colletti said, adding with a shrug, "Nothing new."

The issue separating the sides now appears to be how it will be paid out - either the total over the next two years, or spread out through 2013.

Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to meet with Major League Baseball officials tomorrow to discuss his admission that he used performance-enhancing drugs from 2001-03 while with Texas. The timing of the meeting was disclosed by a baseball official with knowledge of the session who spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement was made. MLB wants to speak with Rodriguez about security issues involving a trainer from the Dominican Republic and the cousin the three-time MVP said injected him with a banned substance called "boli" . . . Indians All-Star center fielder Grady Sizemore will not play for Team USA in the WBC because of soreness in his left groin . . . Astros shortstop Miguel Tejada has changed his mind and will play for the Dominican Republic in the WBC. Tejada said earlier this week he decided to skip the event because the Dominican team had asked him to play first base. Now he will most likely be used at shortstop, third base, and designated hitter . . . Johan Santana has been scratched from his second straight start by the Mets because of a sore left elbow . . . Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb was scratched from his first spring start because of a sore right forearm.