The last time there was a Barry Bonds-Jeff Kent story in San Diego, the two players tussled in the dugout.

But last night, Bonds' stance was completely different. The San Francisco Giants slugger was emphatically calling for Kent's return next season.

"If he's not back next year, I will be one pissed-off player on this team, period, and I'm not afraid to say it," Bonds told the San Francisco Chronicle after the Giants' 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Padres on Thursday. If Kent does not return, Bonds said, "The organization better get somebody that can do as well or better."

Kent is a free agent after this season, and may choose to play elsewhere. With that possibility, Bonds told the newspaper: "It has nothing to do with Jeff" and went on to say that it has to do with the Giants' recent trend of not re-signing their own players before their contracts expire.

"Jeff has done his job, so they need to put up or shut up," Bonds told the Chronicle. "Dusty (Baker) has done his job. Brian (Sabean) has done his job. We have great players over here, a good GM, a good manager. If you lose that you might never get it back."

The comments were in sharp contrast to when Bonds shoved Kent in the chest during a the San Diego Padres' 10-7 win over the Giants on June 25. Bonds and Kent had to be separated, and TV replays showed that trainer Stan Conte was holding back manager Dusty Baker.

Giants ownership has made it clear that they want the season to end before making any decisions on extensions, and Kent has recently expressed interest in testing the free-agent market over the winter.

"It's a gamble," Bonds told the newspaper in reference to waiting. "You gamble with a player who's good, most of the time you lose that gamble. You have to really think what's best, to gamble with a good player like Jeff Kent and possibly lose him, or to pay him. You don't gamble on good players. You don't gamble on good managers like Dusty. I don't agree with that, but I don't own the team."