Even if all the above comes together, though, there are hoops that must be jumped through. If the Twins put Thome on trade waivers, every other team in baseball would have a chance to claim him before the Phillies. And it's likely somebody would, especially an American League team looking for a designated-hitter type.

However, since he has a no-trade clause, he could decline assignment to a team he didn't want to play for and become a free agent. If he did that, he'd forfeit the remainder of his contract, about $500,000, although ya gotta believe that wouldn't be an obstacle for a guy who has made about $140 million in his career.

LongDrive wrote:In that case, GET ER DUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even if all the above comes together, though, there are hoops that must be jumped through. If the Twins put Thome on trade waivers, every other team in baseball would have a chance to claim him before the Phillies. And it's likely somebody would, especially an American League team looking for a designated-hitter type.

However, since he has a no-trade clause, he could decline assignment to a team he didn't want to play for and become a free agent. If he did that, he'd forfeit the remainder of his contract, about $500,000, although ya gotta believe that wouldn't be an obstacle for a guy who has made about $140 million in his career.

21McBride wrote:I don't care that he was ineffective as a PH for the 09 Dodgers. It's all or nothing and he would look much, much better than Ben Francisco (our 09 mainstay DH/Rule fill-in), Ross Gload, or Ibanez designated hitting in the AL park.

mozartpc27 wrote:I am a little concerned that Thome is too much of a gentleman to exercise that clause in his contract, thus leaving the Twins with nothing. He'd probably want them to get a player, feel like he owed it to the organization, etc.

Booo.

If the Indians had a spot for him, that would be a fine place for him to go.

bleh wrote:Hafner hurt his foot.

Philadelphia is now viewed as baseball heaven and the players see it that way, too. One former Phillies player who also played for the Marlins told me in spring training that he never felt he was in the major leagues until he came to Philadelphia. And that was from a veteran who also spent considerable time in triple A.

BigEd76 wrote:Time to play "name that player!", courtesy of Brookover:

Philadelphia is now viewed as baseball heaven and the players see it that way, too. One former Phillies player who also played for the Marlins told me in spring training that he never felt he was in the major leagues until he came to Philadelphia. And that was from a veteran who also spent considerable time in triple A.

BigEd76 wrote:Time to play "name that player!", courtesy of Brookover:

Philadelphia is now viewed as baseball heaven and the players see it that way, too. One former Phillies player who also played for the Marlins told me in spring training that he never felt he was in the major leagues until he came to Philadelphia. And that was from a veteran who also spent considerable time in triple A.

FTN wrote:obviously Dobbs.

jerseyhoya wrote:Weaver just got 5/85 from the Angels

He was making 7.37 MM this year, and had 4.129 years of service time coming into this season.

Hamels is making 9.5 MM this year, and had 4.143 years of service time coming into this season.

Cole is a year younger than Weaver, but I wonder if this doesn't set a pretty decent starting place for talks between Rube and Cole this offseason.