Cubs, Thome do lunch at Wrigley Field

Cubs fans can imagine how much damage Jim Thome might do hitting on either side of Sammy Sosa. AP

CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Cubs treated free agent Jim Thome to lunch on Wednesday, hoping they can entice the first baseman to stick around for the next few years.

Thome, the most coveted slugger in this winter's free agent market, and his agent, Pat Rooney, met with general manager Jim Hendry at Wrigley Field.

"It was a good visit," Hendry said. "I have known Jim a little bit before, and I know Pat Rooney real well. It was a pleasant lunch."

Thome, who grew up in Peoria, Ill., rooting for the Cubs, requested the meeting.

It's doubtful the Cubs will make a serious attempt at signing Thome, who is already mulling over offers from the Cleveland Indians and Philadelphia Phillies.

Chicago didn't pick up the option for first baseman Fred McGriff, but the club appears to be set on playing minor leaguer Hee Seop Choi next season.

So is signing Thome impossible?

"I would say right now you never say never, but we are very committed to making sure that Hee Seop Choi gets a chance to play," Hendry said. "Pat may get back to me on some things, but Jim has a lot of things on his plate and I think it was just a matter of him wanting to express to me that this is one of the places that he really wanted to think about."

Meanwhile, the Indians, who made Thome a four-year offer worth about $45 million on Oct. 31, are eager for Thome to get back to them.

"We've been told we're going to get a last shot," Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro said Wednesday. "We want to give them our last shot."

The Phillies have reportedly offered Thome a five-year, $75 million package.

Chicago's hiring of manager Dusty Baker and Thome's state ties made the Cubs an option Thome wanted to consider. He's already chatted with Baker.

"I talked to Thome mostly about duck hunting and deer hunting," Baker said.

Hendry wouldn't speculate on whether Thome would be willing to accept less money to come to Chicago.

"Jim is a straightforward guy and he knew he would get that from me back," Hendry said. "I was very impressed that he wanted to talk and I think we have that credibility in the game and I think Dusty brings some of that to the table, too.

 

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