Everyone would like to see Jim Thome traded to a contender, but that’s harder than it sounds. Chances are slim the Twins could get him on the roster of a great team no matter how hard they tried. And the team most desperate for and likely to gain his services might be hard for Twins fans to stomach.
Thome can only be traded to any MLB team IF he gets through waivers, and that’s unlikely. He’s a real asset and he’s cheap, so there is almost no reason for a team NOT to claim him. In fact, not only is it highly unlikely that 29 teams would pass on him, he probably would not get past the fifth team in priority. Because if he was put on waivers today, the order would go…
Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, CHICAGO WHITE SOX…
The White Sox, you’ll recall, tried to fill Thome’s absence from their lineup by signing left-handed slugger Adam Dunn to a 4-year, $56M contract. That’s been a disaster, as Dunn has posted a .164 BA from the middle of the lineup, including just 3 hits in 80 at-bats against southpaws. Thome is EXACTLY the player the White Sox need to heal that gaping wound.
There are all kinds of other interesting facets to the White Sox claiming Thome. He’s originally from Peoria. It keeps him close to his family. He has some history there, which could be both good and bad given how the White Sox basically rejected him prior to him joining the Twins. But no matter how Thome and the Sox feel about each other, there is almost zero chance the White Sox wouldn’t claim him, even if it just meant keeping him away from the Tigers.
So, for all you big-hearted folks wanting Thome to get his shot at a ring – does it change things if he’s gets the White Sox their second championship in the last seven years? I won’t think any less of you if you admit it does – cuz it kinda does to me, too.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
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5 comments:
Were the Sox to claim Thome, I would recommend the Twins simply fax back a picture of an erect middle finger and recall him.
In 2009, Thome cleared waivers and was traded to the Dodgers on 8/31, although he was hitting .249/.372/.493 for Chicago (similar to his current line, but with a better OBP). I'd also expect the White Sox to jump on him this time, if only to keep him from joining another contender, but who knows?
If he did happen to help the White Sox win the division, or even a World Series, I'd be OK with it. I don't really HATE the White Sox or any of the other AL Central teams. If the Twins can't make the playoffs, I kinda like to see the Central representative(s) do well in October. Now, if he joined the Yankees, that would be another story....
Honestly? No, it wouldn't bother me.
If he could get as far as Cleveland and end his career there (assuming he doesn't come abck next season), that would be fine with me.
I would guess that the Twins would of put Thome on waivers only if he wanted it. If they are thinking of bringing him back next year or he wants to finish his career with the Twins they would respect that. They may very well of asked him where he wanted to go. I could see him passing through waivers, before his recent home run barage in Detroit, he wasn't hitting all that well. The 600 home run thing would of been something of a distraction on a contender.
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