Bonds Wins Second MVP in 3 Seasons : Baseball: Padres’ Gary Sheffield finishes third in balloting.

NEW YORK — Barry Bonds won the National League’s most valuable player award for the second time in three years Wednesday and soon might have another title--that of baseball’s highest-paid player.

“If you are the best, you should be paid the best and I’m confident Barry will be,” agent Dennis Gilbert said of the Pittsburgh Pirate free-agent left fielder during a conference call from his Beverly Hills office after it was announced that Bonds won the MVP in voting by a committee of the Baseball Writers Assn. of America.

Padre third baseman Gary Sheffield finished third in the balloting, behind Bonds and Atlanta Braves third baseman Terry Pendleton.

Sheffield said he was “a little bit” disappointed but that “I’m happy for Barry as a friend. It’s quite an accomplishment and he deserves it.”

Sheffield, acquired in a spring trade with the Milwaukee Brewers, hit .330 to win the batting title and had 33 homers and 100 RBIs.

“If I didn’t win the batting title, I’d have no second thoughts (about the MVP award),” Sheffield said. “But I won that and hit 30 home runs. It doesn’t happen much in the modern days.”

Gilbert said he did not think the MVP award would raise Bonds’ price, because “people in the bidding are already cognizant of his ability.”

Gilbert said seven clubs have showed interest in Bonds, but two have been eliminated. He said there has been contact with the Angels and Dodgers, but neither has shown interest to date.

The Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and both Chicago teams are believed to be the front-runners. Gilbert said there is a possibility Bonds will be signed before the winter baseball meetings in early December.

Bonds, who said the primary criterion in evaluating teams is a commitment to winning, might receive a five- or six-year contract for about $35 million. Gilbert said Bonds, who recently sold his house in Pittsburgh, is resigned to leaving the Pirates.

“I love the city, I love the fans and I love (Manager) Jim Leyland, everyone knows that,” Bonds said. “But the Pirates have had the opportunity (to reach an agreement on a multiyear contract) for 6 1/2 years. I don’t think they’ve opened the door for me to stay there.”

For winning the MVP, Bonds will receive one last check from the Pirates, a $250,000 bonus on top of his 1992 salary of $4.7 million.

Bonds, who won in 1990 and narrowly lost to Pendleton last year, won easily over Pendleton and Sheffield, who planned to join Bonds in a congratulatory dinner in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.

Bonds received 18 of the 24 first-place votes and 304 points. Pendleton had four first-place votes and 232 points. Sheffield received 204 points.

Bonds led the Pirates to a third consecutive title in the National League East by hitting .311 with 34 home runs and 103 runs batted in. He scored a league-leading 109 runs, walked 127 times as opposing pitchers frequently pitched around him, and stole 39 bases. He also made only three errors and won a third consecutive Gold Glove.

He is the 10th player to win more than one MVP, joining such Hall of Famers as Stan Musial, Willie Mays and Ernie Banks. Asked if he regrets the 1991 loss to Pendleton that deprived him of three in a row, Bonds said:

“Not at all. What’s done is done. I’m proud for Terry.”

Bonds said he was excited by the prospect of the announcement.

“I never thought of winning twice,” he said, adding that this one would be dedicated to his mother, the first having been dedicated to his father, Bobby Bonds, a former major league standout.

This one, he said, was sweeter.

“I didn’t want anyone thinking (the first MVP) was a fluke,” he said. “It’s comparatively easy to climb the mountain, but harder to stay. I want to do this again and again.”

Indeed, Sheffield said his third-place finish in 1992 would only strengthen his resolve for next season.

“If not more hungry, this will keep me hungry,” Sheffield said. “You have to come back like you’re on a mission.”