NEW YORK (AP) – The trade that would send Sammy Sosa from the Chicago Cubs to the Baltimore Orioles took a step forward Monday when the players’ association approved a key change to his contract that is required to complete the deal.

Chicago would receive Jerry Hairston Jr. and a pair of minor leaguers, second baseman Mike Fontenot and right-handed pitcher Dave Crouthers, in exchange for Sosa and $12 million. The trade is likely to be finalized Thursday or Friday.

Sosa’s contract currently contains a provision that calls for the team’s $18 million option for 2006 to become guaranteed if he is traded and for a $19 million team option for 2007 to be added, one that would carry a $4.5 million buyout. As part of the trade, Sosa will sign an addendum to his contract voiding that provision.

Commissioner Bud Selig also must approve the trade because more than $1 million will change hands in the swap, which the teams put in motion Friday night. The teams started the process of submitting documents outlining the trade to the commissioner’s office, but all the necessary paperwork had not been sent in as of Monday night.

To replace some of Sosa’s power, the Cubs were in negotiations with free-agent outfielder Jeromy Burnitz.

Baltimore would pay just $5 million of Sosa’s $17 million salary this year, with the Cubs paying $12 million. The Orioles would assume responsibility for the 2006 option, which Baltimore would be able to buy out for $4.5 million.

In addition, Chicago would remain responsible for the $3.5 million severance pay called for in Sosa’s contract, which must be given to the seven-time All-Star within 30 days after the trade is finalized. The Cubs would wind up paying $62.5 million of the $72 million Sosa was guaranteed in the four-year deal, with the Orioles paying $9.5 million.

Hairston took his physical Monday in the Phoenix area, but Sosa might not take his until Thursday.

The Cubs and Orioles did not include a 72-hour window for a contract extension. The 36-year-old outfielder has agreed to waive his right to block the trade and will go to the Orioles without an extension.

After the deal is done, Baltimore might try to negotiate a new contract with Sosa.

Barry Bonds to miss most of spring training

Barry Bonds is expected to miss much of spring training following arthroscopic surgery Monday on his right knee, but the San Francisco Giants slugger should recover in plenty of time to resume his chase of Hank Aaron’s home run record in April.

The seven-time NL MVP had a “minor arthritis cleanup,” the Giants said in statement. Dr. Arthur Ting also repaired a small tear in Bonds’ meniscus.

Giants trainer Stan Conte expects Bonds to return for at least the final two weeks of spring training, and the 40-year-old should be back to full strength before opening day.

“It’s not a situation where I’m concerned for him,” Conte said. “It doesn’t take him long to get ready. … It’s good for him not to wear himself out during spring training, which he does sometimes.”

Bonds often tires of the day-to-day grind of spring training, both mentally and physically, and his rehabilitation might even provide a respite.

He will report to Scottsdale, Ariz., along with the Giants’ pitchers and catchers on Feb. 17, but will concentrate on his six-week rehab program until mid-March.

Conte said Bonds’ knees have responded well to similar arthroscopic operations.

and that Bonds has “a very youthful body for his age.”

“He recovers well,” Conte said. “You never know when age is going to be an issue, but this surgery was not extensive.”

Bonds’ knee showed signs of arthritis during a similar operation in 1999, but this surgery revealed less trouble than the Giants feared.

Bonds first complained of pain in his right knee last week.

Bonds finished last season with 703 career homers, trailing only Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

He also became the oldest player in major league history to win an MVP award. Bonds hit .362 to win his second NL batting title in three seasons and shattered the major league record with a .609 on-base percentage, topping the previous mark of .582 he set two years ago.

He walked 232 times, 34 more than the previous record he set in 2002 and more than 100 better than anyone else in baseball this season. His 120 intentional walks obliterated the old mark of 68 that he had set in 2002.