SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds tussled with pitcher Jason Christiansen in the clubhouse lunchroom at SBC Park earlier this season in a dispute about one of the slugger's trainers, another player told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
The player, who witnessed the June altercation but spoke on condition of anonymity because he did not want to talk publicly about an incident between other players, said Christiansen was frustrated with Harvey Shields, Bonds' personal stretch man now employed by the team.
"I don't think punches were thrown," the player said. "It was more grabbing. It was regarding one of Bonds' trainers, Harvey."
Shortly after the scuffle, Bonds left for Los Angeles, where he spent more than two months rehabilitating his troublesome right knee following three operations since Jan. 31. The 41-year-old slugger, third on the career home run list, rejoined the Giants on Monday for their game at Dodger Stadium and hoped to be activated this week.
Giants general manager Brian Sabean declined to discuss the altercation between Bonds and Christiansen, who was traded to the Los Angeles Angels last week.
"I'm not going to comment on what goes on in the clubhouse," Sabean said from Los Angeles in a phone interview with AP. "Old news, too. It was three months ago."
Giants spokesman Blake Rhodes told the AP that Bonds told him, "I never had a problem with that player."
Christiansen said he gets along well with Bonds.
"I don't know why someone would say something like that," the pitcher said Tuesday night after the Angels lost 3-2 at Boston. "Me and Barry have a good relationship and I wish him all the best. It's sad that someone would come up with something like that on a day like this when Barry is starting to come back. You never know what motivates people, but I'm glad to see Barry back on the field."
That was a slight change from what Christiansen said when he joined his new team, telling reporters he was eager for a fresh start — and to get away from Bonds.
"It's good to get out of there," Christiansen said. "You pitch a good game and they come over and they ask, 'Hey, did you guys miss Barry today?' I mean, life goes on without that guy coming out to the ballpark. Over the last five months of the season, we probably saw him for a total of maybe 20 days, so it was tough to answer questions about somebody you don't know anything about — unless you go onto his Web site. I've never been on it, and don't plan to. I wish him well and I hope he gets better, but I have no need to get on there."
Bonds has been providing updates on his health on his Web site, www.barrybonds.com.
Christiansen was not immediately available for comment because the Angels were in the middle of a game against the Boston Red Sox.
A phone message left for Shields wasn't immediately returned Tuesday.
ESPN first reported the story Monday.