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Phillies' offer to Thome reaches $95M Posted: Tuesday November 26, 2002 4:35 PMUpdated: Tuesday November 26, 2002 11:54 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Now that David Bell has joined the Philadelphia Phillies, they're waiting to find out if Jim Thome will come aboard, too. Phillies general manager Ed Wade and other team officials met with the free-agent first baseman on Monday and increased their offer to $95 million over six years, a team source said Tuesday on the condition of anonymity. The proposal contains a team option for 2009 that would make the contract worth up to $115 million, the source said. Cleveland, Thome's only major league club, increased its offer Monday to about $60 million over five years, an Indians team source said, also on the condition of anonymity. Thome may make his decision before Thanksgiving. "I talked to him three or four times over the last month," said Bell, a friend of Thome's from his two stints with the Indians in 1995 and 1998. "My gut feeling is he's going to make a good decision and the right decision." Philadelphia's previous offer had been for $75 million over five years. Phillies manager Larry Bowa is optimistic Thome will turn down Cleveland, which selected him in the 13th round of the 1989 amateur draft, and choose Philadelphia.
"I might be surprised if he's not coming," Bowa said. "I know he wants to win. He's gathering a lot of information and it's a decision he has to make." Thome, the most coveted hitter in this winter's free-agent market, hit a club record 52 homers for the Indians last season. He also hit .304 with 118 RBIs, 122 walks and had a .445 on-base percentage. The 32-year-old Thome has a .287 batting average, 334 homers and 927 RBIs in a 12-year major league career. He has hit at least 30 homers in seven straight seasons. "Besides what he does on the field, he's a very well-liked guy," Bell said. "Everybody in the clubhouse likes him." Wade hopes adding Bell entices Thome to sign with the Phillies. "Our club is better now than 10 days ago," Wade said. "Hopefully that's one more factor." Bell, who helped the San Francisco Giants reach the World Series last month, hit .261 with 20 homers and 73 RBIs last season. He will replace All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen, traded by Philadelphia to St. Louis in July. Though the Giants fell one victory short of beating the Anaheim Angels in the World Series, Bell thinks the Phillies, a team that has had just two winning seasons in 16 years, is closer to winning a championship. "I really believe we're going to win here," Bell said. "We have a nice mix of young players and talent. It's a team that's up and coming." The Phillies, unwilling to spend a lot of money in the past, have been the most aggressive team so far in the offseason, targeting Thome, Bell and left-handed pitcher Tom Glavine. Wade still is waiting to hear from Glavine's agent, Gregg Clifton, regarding a three-year offer worth up to $30 million for the two-time NL Cy Young award winner. Clifton said Monday he was preparing four-year counteroffers for the Phillies, New York Mets and Atlanta Braves, the only team Glavine has played for in his 16-year big-league career. "We're at the point where we're really willing to take the next step and fill in gaps with significant players," Wade said. |
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