Thome Willing to Accept Trade

[DBAHO]

From the Philly Inquirer;

 

In a couple of hours, he would shower, grab some lunch and once again begin to wonder anxiously about the future, where he'd play his next baseball game, and who he'd play it for.

 

The Phillies?

 

The Indians?

 

The White Sox?

 

"There needs to be a resolution," said Thome, who could see himself playing for any one of these teams.

 

Thome, who missed 103 games with back and elbow injuries, has been diligently rehabbing his body since having elbow surgery Aug. 16.

 

Trainer Jeff Cooper raves about Thome's physical condition. Indeed, the 35-year-old veteran looks firm and strong, ready to rebound from the nightmare that was 2005. The year started with the death of his mother, Joyce, and included his having to watch from the side as his teammates' reach for the playoffs came up one game short.

 

Thome is owed $46 million the next three seasons. To trade him, the Phillies would have to absorb a good chunk of that money, at least half and maybe more, some baseball executives have said.

 

Thome also has a no-trade clause, meaning he must OK any deal.

 

It would have to be an American League team, where he could be a designated hitter in addition to a first baseman.

 

It would have to be to a team with a chance of winning, because his championship desires are as strong as ever.

 

And, it probably has to be to a city close to his Midwest roots. He grew up in Illinois and has an off-season home outside of Cleveland.

 

"I can't pinpoint a team yet," Thome said. "But it would have to be close to home. Cleveland would be a place. Would it be the only place? No. Chicago would be there."

 

Thome played 12 seasons in Cleveland before signing with the Phillies for $85 million in December 2002. Last month, budget-conscious Indians management said Thome was not a fit for the team. But there are now indications that the Indians, who could be in the market for a first baseman, would rethink their position if the Phillies were to eat a significant amount of Thome's salary. Indians general manager Mark Shapiro did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

 

People close to the situation say the White Sox could make a play for Thome if they are unable to re-sign free agent Paul Konerko. Even if Konerko returns, the Sox could have interest in Thome as a DH.

 

Thome hit 89 homers his first two seasons with the Phillies. Last year, he hit just .207 with seven homers in 59 games.

[SSH2005]

Yeah, I posted this in the other Thome thread. Pretty interesting. It's nice to know that even if Konerko leaves, we will still have a good option for first base. And a 100% healthy Thome could put up even better numbers than Konerko. He'd be a very nice #3 lefty hitter in our lineup that we could also DH to keep healthy.

Edited November 20, 2005 by SSH2005

[beck72]

KW has always made fair deals. If Philly gets a decent deal from the sox, Gillick should jump on it. Then he has some financial flexibility to make additional moves, like the sox did with Lee last yr. If the Phils wait for ST, they could be really stuck.

 

With so few options available to the Phils w/ Thome's no-trade clause, this should happen sooner rather than later.

[GreatScott82]

I'm all for this KW! Just please don't trade away any of our starting pitchers! They are what got us a WS title!

[maggsmaggs]

If the Phillies eat half of the contract, we end up paying $8 million for a prime hitter, if he is healthy. But, he is just as big a risk as any free agent out there this year, even Konerko and we would only be tied for 3 years. I say, Kenny needs to jump on this before Cleveland. In 2 weeks, my guess is that Kenny will be Pat Gillick's Siamese twin at the Winter Meetings.

[SnB]

I guarantee that if we don't seal up konerko, thome will be here next year.

Yes, i have that much faith in KW.

[Jake]

Why can't we have both Konerko and Thome?

[NorthSideSox72]

I really hope we get Thome, no matter what happens with PK. If PK stays, Thome can DH, because I have little confidence in a healthy Frank returning. If PK goes, then we really need Thome at 1B, and if Frank is not healthy, probably yet another bat.

[nitetrain8601]

I really hope we get Thome, no matter what happens with PK.  If PK stays, Thome can DH, because I have little confidence in a healthy Frank returning.  If PK goes, then we really need Thome at 1B, and if Frank is not healthy, probably yet another bat.

 

I hear the A's are looking at Thomas for DH.

[Milkman delivers]

Couldn't we have both, seriously?

[mmmmmbeeer]

If the Phillies eat half of the contract, we end up paying $8 million for a prime hitter, if he is healthy.  But, he is just as big a risk as any free agent out there this year, even Konerko and we would only be tied for 3 years.  I say, Kenny needs to jump on this before Cleveland.  In 2 weeks, my guess is that Kenny will be Pat Gillick's Siamese twin at the Winter Meetings.

 

If CLE ends up with Thome and are able resign Millwood, we're going to have one helluve tough time with them next season. Not only because their offense gets that much stronger, but this probably means that, unless we get Delgado, we'll still have a weak DH on an already average/below average offensive team.

[Gene Honda Civic]

Couldn't we have both, seriously?

I think we've shown that we could theoretically support a Konerko/Delgado lead team by trading a few of the (relatively) cheaper parts from our team.

 

Philly's gonna have to eat much of Thome's contract because of his injury concerns. The article speculated half or even more. The Sox could easily support Kong at 12+M and Thome at $8M.

[3E8]

I think we could sign Giles and Durazo for a couple million more per year than what just PK will make per year and actually get more production out of that combination than we would out of PK/Thome. But Durazo having his performance hindered due to past injury is more likely than Thome suffering the same way.

Edited November 20, 2005 by 3E8

[farmteam]

I haven't been reading too much of the Thome stuff, so maybe I missed the discussion, but...

 

What would the Indians do with Thome? They have Hafner and Broussard, and I know they are unhappy with Broussard, but Thome won't play first everyday, and Hafner is brutal defensively, I thought.

 

Talk about a run-on sentence.

[hi8is]

well.... run on sentences date all the way back to cave man times... in fact run on sentences were invented in that time era.... the cave men could only say "UGG UGG OHH OHH UGG" repeatedly and had no concept of puncuation which is a literay device to separate diffrent expressed ideas in a written structure other wise known as a sentance....

 

this has also served as an example of a run on sentance, as well as irony.

[WHarris1]

well.... run on sentences date all the way back to cave man times... in fact run on sentences were invented in that time era.... the cave men could only say "UGG UGG OHH OHH UGG" repeatedly and had no concept of puncuation which is a literay device to separate diffrent expressed ideas in a written structure other wise known as a sentance....

 

this has also served as an example of a run on sentance, as well as irony.

ROFLMFAO

[Buehrle>Wood]

You think the Phillies will se what Konerko does first before listening to any trades?

[hi8is]

me no know... me no horse... me no miss cleo.. me no have no idea... me talk like mexican learning english

[JUGGERNAUT]

I agree with some of you. We must play keep a way with CLE. We can't let them get Thome. Have you seen his numbers at the Jake & the Cell? How could we beat them?

 

I think keeping him away from CLE is even more important than resigning Kong. CLE is not even in contention to sign Kong so if it's not a member of the White Sox he's out of the division & possibly in the NL. But CLE has just a s good a chance to get Thome from Philly as well do. We can't & must not allow that to happen.

[kapkomet]

I agree with some of you.  We must play keep a way with CLE.  We can't let them get Thome.  Have you seen his numbers at the Jake & the Cell?  How could we beat them?

 

I think keeping him away from CLE is even more important than resigning Kong.  CLE is not even in contention to sign Kong so if it's not a member of the White Sox he's out of the division & possibly in the NL.  But CLE has just a s good a chance to get Thome from Philly as well do.  We can't & must not allow that to happen.

So they can't get Kong, but they can get Thome? I know Philly is going to pay SOME of that contract, but not all. If they can get Thome, they can get Kong too... perhaps... (Thome for $8 mill and Kong for $12-13 mill - yea I guess that's a big difference - but I think this is a smoke screen for CLE, that's my point).

[southsider2k5]

I agree with some of you.  We must play keep a way with CLE.  We can't let them get Thome.  Have you seen his numbers at the Jake & the Cell?  How could we beat them?

 

I think keeping him away from CLE is even more important than resigning Kong.  CLE is not even in contention to sign Kong so if it's not a member of the White Sox he's out of the division & possibly in the NL.  But CLE has just a s good a chance to get Thome from Philly as well do.  We can't & must not allow that to happen.

 

Cleveland doesn't need Thome, they need pitching and defense. Their offense is fine at 1b/DH.

 

They need to really worry about bringing back Millwood/Howry/Wickman or replacing them without harming their core of young players.

[witesoxfan]

Cleveland doesn't need Thome, they need pitching and defense.  Their offense is fine at 1b/DH.

 

They need to really worry about bringing back Millwood/Howry/Wickman or replacing them without harming their core of young players.

 

I'd agree with this very much. It wouldn't be too hard for them to just retain Broussard, bring in LeCroy to be the 1Bman against LHP, and then go from there without losing much production. In fact, that's almost exactly what I see happening.

 

I don't think they bring back Millwood...he's probably looking for atleast 3-30, and perhaps more, winning the ERA title and all. Hell, Boras got the guy $7 mill after a s***ty season with Philadelphia...how much can he get Millwood after Millwood actually had a good year?

 

I will say that I'm pretty sure they have a hell of a lot of good arms in the minors, so I could see them moving on with all 3 of those and just going with young guys.