Thome signs with Phillies

[John Corn]

Thome has signed for the money. 6 years, $87M + Option year 7. Phils have now made over their infield into a very strong starting 5. Thome, Polanco, Rollins, Bell, Lieberthal. This also helps firm up the batting order,

Rollins
Polanco
Abreu
Burrell
Thome
Lieberthal
Bell
Byrd
Pitcher

Phils are starting to look good.

Sad day for me, I really like Jim, this guy is a class act.

:crying:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/index

[HarryD]

I never thought he would leave the Indians! How long has he been with the Tribe.. like 10-12 years??

He's gonna hate Philly.. unless he has a real BIG year!

[John Corn]

Fast foward 3 or 4 years... Phillies will regret signing an aging 1B with back problems.

These next two years are their best chance at the World Series.

Did they need his kind of presence in the clubhouse and in that batting order? Absolutely.

If I was a team with money to spend I would have waited and gone after some of these players over the next couple of years. There are going to be very few teams with money and a lot of young quality players possibly available.



Potential free agents at the end of the 2003 season
Kevin Milwood, Atl., RHP, 29*
Sidney Ponson, Bal., RHP, 27*
Bartolo Colon, Mon., RHP, 29*
Livan Hernandez, S.F., RHP, 29*
Kirk Rueter, S.F., LHP, 33*
Andy Pettitte, NYY, LHP, 32*
Pedro Astacio, NYM, RHP, 34*
Randy Johnson, Ari., LHP, 41*
Danny Graves, Cin., RHP, 31*
Keith Foulke, CWS, RHP, 31*
Kelvim Escobar, Tor., RHP, 28*
Scott Sullivan, Cin., RHP, 33*
Armando Benitez, NYM, RHP, 31*
Eddie Guardado, Min., LHP, 34*
Mike Williams, Pit., RHP, 34*
Javy Lopez, Atl., C, 33*
Luis Castillo, Fla., 2B, 29*
Fernando Vina, St. L., 2B, 35*
Craig Biggio, Hou., 2B, 38*
Miguel Tejada, Oak., SS, 28*
Rich Aurilia, S.F., SS, 33*
Roberto Alomar, NYM, 2B, 38*
Jose Cruz, Tor., 0F, 30*
Vladimir Guerrero, Mon., OF, 28*
Shannon Stewart, Tor., OF, 30*
Mike Cameron, Sea., 0F, 31*
* Opening Day age in 2004


Potential free agents at the end of the 2004 season
Kerry Wood, ChC, RHP, 28*
Matt Clement, ChC, RHP, 31*
Ryan Dempster, Cin., RHP, 28*
Odalis Perez, L.A., LHP, 27*
Javier Vazquez, Mon., RHP, 29*
Pedro Martinez, Bos., RHP, 34*
Derek Lowe, Bos., RHP, 31*
Curt Schilling, Ari., RHP, 38*
Matt Morris, St. L., RHP, 31*
Kris Benson, Pit., RHP, 30*
Russ Ortiz, S.F., RHP, 31*
Eric Milton, Min., LHP, 30*
Brad Radke, Min., RHP, 32*
Freddy Garcia, Sea., RHP, 29*
Scott Williamson, Cin., RHP, 29*
Bobby Howry, Bos., RHP, 32*
Jose Jimenez, Col., RHP, 32*
Braden Looper, Fla., RHP, 30*
Felix Rodriguez, S.F., RHP, 31*
Troy Percival, Ana., RHP, 36*
Robb Nen, S.F., RHP, 35*
Mariano Rivera, NYY, RHP, 35*
Jason Varitek, Bos., C, 33*
Paul Konerko, ChW, 1B, 29*
Derrek Lee, Fla., 1B, 30*
Richie Sexson, Mil., 1B, 30*
Carlos Delgado, Tor., 1B-DH, 32*
Jose Vidro, Mon., 2B, 31*
Mike Lowell, Fla., 3B, 31*
Corey Koskie, Min., 3B, 32*
Eric Chavez, Oak., 3B, 27*
Adrian Beltre, L.A., 3B, 26*
Aaron Boone, Cin., 3B, 32*
Troy Glaus, Ana., 3B, 28*
Cristian Guzman, Min., SS, 27*
Orlando Cabrera, Mon., SS, 30*
Nomar Garciaparra, Bos., SS, 32*
Trot Nixon, Bos., OF, 31*
Carlos Beltran, K.C., OF, 28*
J.D. Drew, St. L., OF, 29*
Magglio Ordonez, ChW, OF, 31*
Garret Anderson, Ana., OF, 33*
Geoff Jenkins, Mil., OF, 31*
* Opening Day age in 2005

[Maniacal1]

John, you're right. Thome is a class act, and Cleveland will miss him. But in two years, Philadelphia will be dying to ditch that contract. How many games will Jim be able to play at first base with no DH for relief?

I'm hearing Travis Lee, who's being displaced by Thome, is of interest to the Indians. He wouldn't be such a bad choice until all those propsects the Tribe have piled up are more fully developed.

[DCSholtis]

Wait till Thome has that yearly run of a slump, John.....Thome will be REGRETTING he ever left comfy Cleveland for Philadelphia...Better known to most of the NL....as Batterychuckerelphia.....Just as JD Drew....Scot Rolen....etc..:rolleyes: :D