Jim Thome returning to the Philadelphia Phillies made a lot of sense back in August. The benefits of a reunion for 2012 aren't as clear-cut, but the Phillies and Thome agreed to terms anyway Friday night. If the 41-year-old slugger passes a physical, he'll play for $1.25 million, reports Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly.
The Phillies also are said to be pursuing Michael Cuddyer, Thome's teammate with the Minnesota Twins. Cuddyer, who is 33 and would cost Philly a first-round draft pick, made $10.5 million this past season. He has batted .272/.343/.451 for his career, finishing 2011 with similar averages. He can play third base, first, second or the outfield corners to varying degrees.
Thome's role would not be so versatile. He can still hit; he batted .256/.361/.477 with 15 homers, 16 doubles and 46 walks in 324 plate appearances with the Twins and Cleveland Indians in 2011. The problem, without being able to use a designated hitter most of the time in the NL, is fielding.
Other than a ceremonial appearance at third base ? for one pitch in the ninth inning of Cleveland's last home game ? he hasn't worn a glove or mitt in competition since 2007, when he played eight innings at first base for the Chicago White Sox. The season before that, he played 20 innings at first. Not since 2005, during his previous stint with the Phillies, did Thome get consistent playing time at first base. His chronically balky back and advancing age just haven't allowed it since.
Even though the Phillies have a big hole at first base while Ryan Howard recuperates from a ruptured left Achilles' tendon, it would be folly to expect Thome to spend significant time playing the field. Even an appearance here or there, because of a double switch or extra innings, might be risky to his health and to the Phillies chances of winning.
So it's possible, even likely, that the Phillies have signed Thome just to pinch hit. Thome never has been good at pinch hitting, for what it's worth: .233/.354/.408 with four homers in 144 career plate appearances. Matt Stairs, who at age 41 made $1.625 million in 2009 to pinch hit, still played almost 100 innings on defense that season. Even if he wanted to take them, I don't think they make steroids that would enable Thome to do the same in 2012.
Then again, reuniting Thome (the son) and manager Charlie Manuel (the father) might work some magic, or at least good luck, with Thome's pinch-hitting abilities. He should be able to add to his 605 career homers.
And it's still a feel-good move. Thome got some fine swag during his second career trip with Cleveland this past season, and the Philly reunion will be just as fruitful nostalgically. Noted Phillies fan @meechone was kidding, but on the square, when he tweeted Friday:
"How can I get these suckers to forget about us getting bounced in the first round? I KNOW!" -Ruben Amaro, Jr., probably
Adding Thome down the stretch in any season, especially after roster expansion, would have been a no-brainer. It didn't happen in '11, of course. In late August after he was claimed off waivers, the Twins traded Thome to the Indians in a hail-Mary attempt get him on a championship team. The Tribe finished 11 games out of a playoff spot.
The Phillies will be favored again to win the NL East, and are a good bet for the World Series. Cuddyer could fit at several positions. Thome doesn't fit into the plan as neatly. But he still might be nice to have around.
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