Inside Baseball

Hot Commodity  

Though he's coveted by contenders, Jim Thome's heart is still in Cleveland

By Stephen Cannella

As the July 31 trade deadline approaches, Indians first baseman Jim Thome looks like the hottest commodity on the market. But whether or not he's likely to be moved remains unclear. Thome, whose 28 home runs ranked second in the American League at week's end, is a free-agent-to-be on a team that's dumping salary and rebuilding, and could tip the balance of power in several division races. But there's a catch: His contract includes a no-trade clause, and he says he's not interested in leaving. "He wants to stay," says Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro, "and we want to keep him."

The Indians say they want to re-sign Thome even though they are slashing payroll. Chuck Solomon

The question for both sides is, Why? The cost-cutting Indians have little chance of re-signing Thome, 31, unless he accepts a huge hometown discount. Thome, who refuses to discuss his plans for next season, will probably seek $15 million to $17 million per year. Shapiro has begun a major renovation, and Cleveland won't be a contender until 2004 at the earliest. Last month he unloaded ace Bartolo Colon to the Expos for three top prospects and veteran Lee Stevens, and last Friday he sent lefthander Chuck Finley to the Cardinals for two minor leaguers.

Thome, meanwhile, would have a chance to join a team with postseason prospects, a change that might be especially welcome after recent developments in Cleveland. The day after the All-Star break, manager Charlie Manuel, whom Thome calls his "second father," was fired. Manuel had been Thome's manager or hitting coach since 1991. Last week another close friend of Thome's, assistant trainer Jimmy Warfield, died after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

Yet Thome still wants to stay with the Tribe. "I've played here a long time and loved playing here," says Thome, an extremely popular figure in Cleveland who has hit more homers (310 through Sunday) than anyone in franchise history. "The contract I signed carries an obligation, and I want to fulfill that obligation."

Despite the team's financial limitations -- the Indians' $79 million payroll on Opening Day could be sliced to around $60 million by next season -- Shapiro says he will try to re-sign Thome, who at week's end hadn't been asked to waive his no-trade clause. Although such a deal is still not out of the question, it is unlikely unless the Indians get a major-league-ready prospect in return. Boston, the contender with the most pressing need for Thome, has a near-barren farm system. The Braves also have a hole at first, but they were comfortably ahead in the NL East race and have little need to part with prized farmhands in order to rent a player for two months (or even less if there's a strike). The A's have been using light-hitting Scott Hatteberg at first, but they're not likely to part with valuable prospects for a player who won't fit into their budget next season.

In other words the most desirable commodity is likely to stay right where he is.

Issue date: July 29, 2002

For more Inside Baseball see this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, July 24. Click here to subscribe to SI.

 

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