The agent for Jim Thome told Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that his client has no intention of retiring and will play in 2011. Pat Rooney says he's talked to the Twins about Thome, though other teams are "in the mix" for the slugger, who now has 589 career home runs. Thome had a special experience in Minnesota, according to his agent and he's now ready to "see what the market brings."
Thome batted .283/.412/.627 with 25 homers for the Twins last year and, not surprisingly, they'd like to bring him back. The 40-year-old has played precisely 28 innings of defense since returning to the American League after the 2005 season, so he's strictly a DH now.
Please Jack sign this guy, he´s the perfect fit for Safeco and a great teammate too, bring back Branyan too, and split time between DH and 1b, Smoak. Thome and Branyan…
Why in the world would Thome go to a rebuilding place? He’ll stay in Minnesota, or if he signs elsewhere, it will be with a team that has a real shot at a ring (Texas, Tampa Bay) that he as DH could be the final piece to.
uh you better not better not mean Thome or Branyan to field. Thome almost certaintly would not field and Branyan has back problems. Leave 1B open for Smoak. I’d like Thome to be DH. Let Branyan go.
Smoak needs to play, not sit on the bench behind Thome or anyone else.
Yes! Test the market, go back to the NL, and stay the hell away from Comerica Park and Justin Verlander!
Why Be less when you can B-More!!!!!!!!, please come to the Orioles teach Markakis how to hit for more power… teach Wieters how to actually work a count in his favor…. teach Adam Jones a better work ethic… and try to break your record for furtherest bomb on Eutaw street :D (i think he has it at 440 other then Griffey’s in the HR Derby)…… hopefully you will be batting 5th behind Mary Reynolds (or the incredibley unrealistic Beltre)
I’m pretty sure Thome can’t “teach” the Orioles how to be better. That job is left to the hitting coach.
Someone needs to teach them how to be better, and while showalter got them winning last year it was because of the pitching turning it around and the return of Brian Roberts (and probably tradeing away Miguel Tejadas contagious approach to hitting of swinging at everything in every situation). The hitting coaches have done nothing for 13 years so they might as well bring in a veteran with real HoF credentials, something the Orioles have not had on thier roster since Cal Ripken (unless you want to count our roided jokes Sosa and Palmerio).
Come on back to Target Field big fella! #600 will be a MOON SHOT to right field in a Twins uni. Thome is one of the most respected guys to ever play this game. I’ll be glad to have him back on my team.
He should go back to the Phillies and pick up that “I’m going to kill you” batting stance that he always had lol
Thome will be a twin again. 2010 really was the perfect spot for Thome he was used correctly, in a division he knows, and played in a clubhouse he really meshed with and enjoyed. Obviously he wants to get paid but think if the twins make close to a fair deal for him he will be back. Heres to 600 at target field he really dosen’t fit our roster that well but he is well worth whatever financial and versatility sacrifices must be made.
As a Sox fan I don’t like seeing him in Minny, but I think he did a good job there. I would say 65% chance he is back there in 2011.
I could see him maybe ending up in Oakland.
was actually thinking this myself. good veteran leadership for a team that actually could be pretty good next year
I’d really like to see the Cubs make a play for Thome. He’s expressed interest in playing in Chicago before, could be had for a modest price, and would be a good 1-2 stop gap for the Cubs if they intend on going for A Gon.
And where exactly would he play? Even he has said that his days at 1B are over except for an emergency situation. Hes strictly an AL player now and a DH. His interest in Chicago is on the South Side and with Dunn there now his days on the South Side are over
To the fans of NL teams and crappy AL teams…give me one good reason why Thome would want to play for your team rather than a contending AL team like the Twins, Yankees, etc.
He’s always put family first, so I doubt he would go somewhere out of the Midwest, especially for a non-contender like Seattle.