San Francisco ? Barry Bonds is finished in San Francisco. The Giants told Bonds they will not bring him back next season, ending an era in which he became all-time home run champion and a lightning rod for the steroids debate in baseball.

“It’s always difficult to say goodbye,” Giants owner Peter Magowan said Friday. “There comes a time when, I think, you have to move in a different direction.”

On his Web site, Bonds said he wasn’t done.

“There is more baseball in me and I plan on continuing my career. My quest for a World Series ring continues,” he said.

Magowan told Bonds in person Thursday night.

“I think he knew the decision was coming. I don’t think it was surprising to him. I think, naturally, he was disappointed,” Magowan said.

“I do believe he’s the greatest player of his generation, one of the greatest players of all time … and it was a great advantage to have a player of his caliber on our team for all those years.”

The 43-year-old Bonds broke Hank Aaron’s record with his 756th home run on Aug. 7. Bonds has spent the past 15 seasons of his 22-year big-league career with the Giants and signed a $15.8 million, one-year contract for this season.

But he hasn’t played since Sept. 15 because of a sprained right big toe, and he wasn’t in the Giants’ lineup Thursday night for the opener of what probably will be his final homestand with San Francisco, which signed him as a free agent in December 1992.

Shadowed by steroid speculation for the past few years, Bonds has hit 28 homers this season, raising his career total to 762. The seven-time NL MVP is batting .279 with 66 RBIs.

Prior to the toe injury, he had been mostly healthy, playing 125 games going into this weekend. The left fielder had 2,935 career hits before Friday night’s game against Cincinnati.

“He can still play,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean said.

Despite Bonds’ personal achievements, the season has been a disappointing one for the Giants, who are mired deep in last place in the NL West.

“We’ve heard for a long time that the Giants are an old team and want to get younger, so we’re not surprised,” said Bonds’ agent, Jeff Borris. “Barry is their oldest player, but qualitatively, he’s their best player.”