San Francisco ? Courthouse by day, batter’s box by night for Barry Bonds? It could happen.

Or, the home run king’s career could be over altogether.

Bonds didn’t have a long list of suitors before being indicted Thursday. Now the slugger’s best bet for 2008 might just be a move across San Francisco Bay to the Oakland Athletics – that is, if they still want him.

The A’s had interest in the 43-year-old Bonds before he was charged with four counts of perjury and one of obstruction of justice following a four-year investigation into steroids.

But now, any club that was considering taking a chance on Bonds and all the baggage he brings will have to think even harder about signing the free agent. Is signing Bonds, perhaps for a reduced rate because of his legal predicament, worth the risk? What if he misses much of next season for his trial? What if he winds up serving prison time?

“I don’t know what his future holds,” Milwaukee Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said Friday. “Every club will have to look at it, but we’re not in play.”

Clearly, teams first will want to know when Bonds’ trial will begin and how long it might last. There’s always the chance he could plea bargain, but that seems unlikely given all his public denials that he used performance-enhancing drugs.

Bonds could become more affordable after making $19.3 million in 2007, even for a club like the low-budget A’s. Oakland is in search of a dangerous hitter in the middle of its lineup and someone who also would put fans in the seats. Bonds led the majors in on-base percentage last season at .480 with San Francisco and hit 28 home runs.

Going to the A’s is a viable scenario: Bonds finally plays in the American League as a designated hitter and doesn’t have to leave his fans in the Bay Area.

Still, Bonds’ options might be few and far between. No. 25 might never play again, despite 762 career homers to his name.

“I don’t have any thoughts at all,” said Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti, who previously worked as assistant GM in San Francisco.

It’s not as if Bonds would sign with a team such as Tampa Bay or Kansas City at this late stage of his career, or that those teams would have interest. Bonds has almost everything on his remarkable resume except a World Series championship.