SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Bud Selig wasn’t even afforded a victory lap after baseball’s technical knockout of Alex Rodriguez in January.

Soon after an arbitrator ruled that baseball’s most high-profile cheat would be banished for the 2014 season came the news that tainted slugger Barry Bonds would return for a weeklong guest stint as spring training instructor for the Giants, starting either Sunday or Monday.

Is it finally time to forgive and forget?

“A lot of time has passed,” Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. “He has paid his dues, so to speak. The players are excited and the manager is excited, so that’s the most important thing.”

Six seasons have gone by since Bonds’ career ended abruptly in 2007 when the Giants decided not to re-sign him. Bonds later was convicted on a felony charge of obstruction of justice, which he currently is appealing.

Sabean said the reunion was “a work in progress” between Bonds and Giants’ ownership, and he doesn’t expect Bonds’ stint in camp to be controversial.

“The timing was right, and he was going to be available in that window,” he said. “It worked for him and it worked for the club.”