The Twins agreed to a one-year deal with Jim Thome, the team announced. The SFX client gets a $3MM guarantee with incentives based on plate appearances, according to MLB.com's Kelly Thesier (on Twitter). The left-handed slugger turned down overtures from the Rangers to continue his pursuit of 600 homers in Minneapolis.
Thome was a welcome addition to the 2010 Twins. He hit 25 homers and posted a .283/.412/.627 line in 340 plate appearances. The 40-year-old was especially effective against right-handers (1.047 OPS), but he held his own against southpaws, too (.763 OPS).
Thome is 11 home runs away from reaching 600 and 20 away from matching Sammy Sosa for seventh place on the all-time list.
Hopefully cheaply enough to still be able to grab Pavano…
Kudos Twins!
my seats in the outfield bleachers just got more valuable in June.
Good, glad to see he got a job again. What a great year for him last year and I can’t wait to see him pass 600 homers this year!
For some reason i love thome on the twins! Just seems like a great fit and good luck getting 600!!!
3 million plus performance bonuses based on plate appearances.
Wwwhatt??? Where were the Jays on this one?
I don’t know if he’d go there over Minnesota. He said his biggest reason for coming back was that his family is comfortable here. Texas seems like the only other team possibly pushing hard for him. And he said that was one of several reasons why he chose MN over TX. The Jays would be a whole new place in many ways and he’d probably have the same reasons as he had for TX, maybe more.
He was/is loved here and he loved it here. There was mutual interest and he knows the division well. He’s close to his home by playing here too. I honestly don’t believe other teams had much of a shot, unless they were going to massively overpay.
Quotes from Thome:
“If we’ve got a day game at home (on a Sunday), and we’re going from Minnesota to Detroit, Cleveland or Kansas City — or Chicago, of course — it gives me an opportunity to slip home on a Monday off-day instead of not seeing my kids for 2 1/2 to 3 weeks,”
“Thome said he developed “a special bond” with his teammates last season and relished the intensity of the team’s rivalries in the AL Central, particularly against the White Sox”-Fox Sports (Rosenthal)
According to Rosenthal, Thome even had a higher offer from TX than MN, so it really seems that no other team interested had a chance, unless they were closer and in the ALC.
Wwwhatt??? Where were the Jays on this one?
where you get that patrick3444?
Welcome back JIMBO! 3 Mil base is a bargain.
Nearing the end but still a potent bat especially with the right line up protection. Good price, too. Plan to get out and see the Twins this year since they now have a real stadium. Son was there last year and said it was a great place.
And reports are Pavano is on the verge of agreeing on a contract.
I’m still very wary of this – I just don’t see throwing that kind of money at Pavano when Millwood can be had cheaper, was basically the same pitcher down the stretch last year and was infinitely better in ’09 playing in a hitter’s park.
Rather have had Francis on his deal than Pavano at 9x the cost.
Good. Didn’t want to see this guy end up with the Rangers. They got enough power in their lineup already.
Yes! Thome on the Twins is just a perfect fit, I’m glad to see it continue. The Twins are a model ballclub, Thome is a model ballplayer, it all works out. 🙂 Congrats!
Ill admit, was getting excited about all the Vlad talk lol, if only we were huge spenders and could get a Vlad/ Thome DH combo… That right handed bat would be a huge boost to a heavy lefty lineup. But, xmas is already over i fear.
Where does that leave Kubel?
Where he should be, getting his ABs when Thome and/or Cuddyer need a day off . . .
Where he should be, getting his ABs when Thome and/or Cuddyer need a day off . . .
Part time DH with Kubel. If Morneau is okay, they might use Thome as a bench bat, like they did at the beginning of 2010. I think he’ll see more time than he did pre-Morneau injury, but Thome seems to be a 300 PA tops player.
In typical Twins fashion, they quietly get the job done. Twins are going to once again be one of the top offensive lineups in all of baseball.
But do they really need another left handed power bat?
Need? No, but having a future HOF who can still kill the ball in your lineup is a luxury that most of us don’t mind. A RH was preferred, but I love me some Jim Thome. He’s a massive improvement on the bench, even if he’s not a “need.”
I highly doubt we would have gotten Vlad for this type of money, which is why I’m even more okay with this. To me, it was Thome or Vlad or some guy who’s going to be a lot worse than both of them (possibly cheaper too).
Let’s face it, across the league there are much more right handed pitchers than left handed pitchers. SO, having a guy that absolutely hammers righties, makes him a no-brainer in that lineup. Did he not fit in last season? When Thome gets a hold of one, it’s gone by a mile. I think the twins also love his plate discipline as displayed by his always high on base %. Finally, the leadership and clubhouse presence is invaluable as players and coaches alike truly love this guy. Incredible resign for Twins Nation.
I like Thome and for cheaply they got him I can’t knock this resigning at all. I just thought Vlad would’ve been a better fit. The top of their lineup includes Span, Mauer, Morneau, and Kubel, I believe a right-handed hitter would’ve better fit. Although I can’t argue with the results last year. Just my 2 cents.
If delmon and Cuddyer can come through, it will help to balance out the offense. Plus, many of our lefties do pretty well against left-handed pitching!
As a Tigers fan, I can’t take this. Why did Detroit opt to sign Damon to play DH last year at four times the money over what the Twins stole Thome for? And couldn’t the Rays, who arguably need a lefty DH bat like Thome more than the Twins, even pony up $4M to sign him this year? It does not compute that the Twins were able to re-sign a solid clubhouse presence who had an OPS over 1.000 last year so cheaply, unless the performance bonuses are easily attainable and large.
Although I suppose Thome could have wanted to return, and spurned similar offers elsewhere to do so…
That’s because we are always at the top of the division so they take less money to win, where as you have to completely overpay to get people to come to Detroit. Seriously who wants to live in Detroit?!?
Thome is a classy guy, you my friend aren’t.
Nor is the rest of the world, deal with it cowboy.
Way to lord the many rich pleasures of living in the tundra of Minneapolis over all of us, Buttermore.
Way to lord the many rich pleasures of living in the tundra of Minneapolis over all of us, Buttermore.
Nor is the rest of the world, deal with it cowboy.
To win what? A chance to get swept by the Yankees? Come on….good signing, but don’t get too big for your britches, buddy.
getting swept by the yankees in the playoffs is a lot better then sitting at home in October. All you gotta do is make it there and you have a chance.
Losing 12 postseason games in a row is pretty much the definition of no chance.
Losing 12 postseason games in a row is pretty much the definition of no chance.
Lol, Love the dig at Detroit……..
Lol, Love the dig at Detroit……..
Uhhh…have you even BEEN to Detroit, or are you following the absolutely absurd stereotypes that surround the city? Detroit is a great baseball city that players continually applaud. The fanbase is great, the part of the city it’s in is beautiful. Grow the h
Uhhh…have you even BEEN to Detroit, or are you following the absolutely absurd stereotypes that surround the city? Detroit is a great baseball city that players continually applaud. The fanbase is great, the part of the city it’s in is beautiful. Grow the h
Guessing he liked the way he was handled and received here last season and wanted to hit 600 where he felt comfortable. He’s grossed at least $138 mil so far, at this point money’s probably not his main concern.
Come On, O’s Sign Vlad!
What do with Jason Kubel now?
Did the Twins just give Kubel $5 million to sit on the bench most of the time?
Yeah, hopefully he can still hit 20-25 homers this year so he can be a type A free agent and get a pick for him next year.
What makes you think Kubel will be on the bench “most of the time?” He’s still our everyday DH. Thome is not. He’s bench bat. The ONLY reason he was as productive as he was last year is that he was forced into extra duty by the Morneau injury. Thome’s at bats will be limited, and he’ll only get significant time if there’s another injury. Barring that, I don’t see him getting enough ABs to hit more than 10-15 HRs.
Probably the fact that Thome is a vastly superior hitter to Kubel…
Completely true, I think the Twins will likely give him more AB’s than he had last year pre-Morneau injury, but I don’t see it being a ton because of the back issue.
So, I do see him playing more, but it’s probably going to be a daily choice based on how he feels. He can’t do it full time the whole year.
Right. He made it very clear even last year he didn’t want to be a full-time DH. He wants 200-300 AB a year. More than a bench bat, but less than an everyday DH.
It would seem foolish to me to start Kubel most of the time if Thome is out-producing him, which is what I’m envisioning. Thome is just a better hitter than Kubel and the better hitter should play most of the time.
It’ll depend on how his body feels. I see more appearances in the first half, even if Morneau is fine. He played about 40-ish percent of the games in the first half.
300-350 PA’s might be his limit as he still had about two weeks of injuries and maybe a few more days of soreness last year and that was while giving him a lot of rest.
I’m glad Thome didn’t sign with the Rangers. I’m a friend of David Murphy, and he would have lost alot of at bats to Thome. I’d like the Rangers to sign a right handed hitting DH. They have plenty of Lefties..
I’m a friend of Jim Thome and he said he wanted those at bats
I hang out with Josh Hamilton every day and he said he couldn’t care less what Thome wants.
I done seen the Rangers on tv and the tv tells me to send in all my gold for cash. Help me pry out my fillings… (yokel mode off)
I’m Nolan Ryan’s chauffeur. He rides with the glass partition up.
Facebook?
Its funny you say that because me and my best friend Michael Young were talking about this on the golf course this week.
Its funny you say that because me and my best friend Michael Young were talking about this on the golf course this week.
I was bowling with my friend Bryan Bullington and he was saying that he thought the Seahawks were gonna win Sunday.
I was hoping he’d go to the Rangers then plug Young in at 1B and let Thome DH.
For $3 mil seems like a steal. They seem too left handed in the middle of the lineup though. I guess the AL Central really has no top tier lefty starting pitchers to worry about and really very few all around the AL in general…
I think John Danks might have something to say about that.
Danks is a good, but not great lefty who actually handles right-handed hitters better than lefties for his career.
John Danks is not top tier.
The only top tier LH starters in the AL are probably Sabathia and Lester.
Second tier only has a few too, Romero, Danks, CJ Wilson
Then Matuz and….the newly acquired Francis I guess round out the bottom.
While the NL_ Lee, DeLa Rosa, Kershaw, Santana, Hamels at the top and
2nd tier guys_Wolf, Lilly, Zito, Richard, Saunders, Garcia
It seems being a lefty power bat may serve better in the AL I guess.
Francis? lol
How about Liriano? He belongs in that second tier with Romero and Danks.
I don’t know if he was including Twins since we don’t face our own pitching. Or he could just be skipping Liriano. I don’t totally blame him if he did. I think he needs to repeat 2010 or improve before I fully trust him as an ace. The talent is certainly there.
How about Price?
Wow, wish I hadn’t forgot Price, I prob lost some credibility with that omission
haha it happens
what about Hochevar?
good point
John Danks is not top tier.
Most of our left-handed hitters handle left-handed pitchers pretty well….check the stats!
Excellent deal for the Twins.
So with a healthy ballclub now just like the beginning of last year…….. Should Thome take away at bats from Kubel? Last year everyone was mad about the idea of him subbing in for Kubel. This year is a new year….. have thoughts changed? Discuss.
As I mentioned above, last year we brought him in as a bench bat. Hang out in the clubhouse, mentor the new guys, hit 5-10 HRs, maybe two or three pinch-hit style… That was the original intent. I’d bet dollars to donuts that that’s the goal this year too. We’ll see if injuries allow it to play out that way.
Yup I agree with you as well. But was wondering how many people that were upset last year with the signing because of the at bats that were going to be taken away from Kubel have changed their mindset for this upcoming season.
I wasn’t upset, but I was kind of worried. Kubel was injured for a lot of the time and in 2009 it seemed like he was finally back to his healthy self and doing what was expected of him when he finally reached the majors. All I heard about him before he was called up was that he was a more complete hitter than Mauer and Morneau. Mauer wasn’t a HR hitter. Morneau…I can’t remember what it was for him, maybe avg. I’m thinking Morneau proved whatever it was wrong now though. He’s a pretty complete hitter now.
In 2010, once Kubel proved that either 2009 was a fluke or that he was just having a year where he wasn’t consistent for half of it, then I was all for Thome.
The main reason I thought he would be taking AB’s away is because I believed Kubel was part of our future and Thome wasn’t going to be here for long (2 tops, I thought and still think). Now I’m not so sure that Kubel will be kept after this season.
I wanted Thome on this team for like 10 years. I was worried about Kubel at first, but then it just became a dream come true with 0 worries.
Jason Kubel couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. Thome is vastly superior to Jason Kubel and deserves to be full time DH.
Thome doesn’t want to be a full time DH. He’s been very clear since the beginning of last year that he wants and needs 1-2 games off a week.
After the year Kubel had last year, I would definitely say that Thome should DH. At least against righties
Jason Kubel couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat. Thome is vastly superior to Jason Kubel and deserves to be full time DH.
This kind of makes me wonder how well Morneau is doing…
Thome isn’t playing first. he’s going to DH THE WHOLE YEAR
I don’t think he meant Thome would play first. I think he was saying that because the Twins added a big bat, it might/must mean that Morneau might not be well. I don’t agree with that statement, but I think that’s what he meant.
soxman doesnt even know what he meant hes not the most intelligent person
I think the Rangers could have beat the Twins on money, but not playing time. Dear Lord… I hope this doesn’t mean the Rangers are going to have to go for Manny…anything but that…
yup but Thome will have better hunting and fishing territory in minnesota than texas
Ha. I know it’s been a wild off-season, but Manny in TEX would be completely out of LF. The Rangers would need to be in complete despair to make a move for Manny. And Nolan Ryan does not strike me as the desperate type.
What do you think the trade return for a guy like Jason Kubel is? The only beneficial scenario I can think of is trading Kubel and one of our back of the rotation starters for an upgrade to the starting rotation but I’m not sure if we could get anybody right now? Any thoughts or ideas of who may be available?
His value isn’t all that high right now coming off the down year. Definitely wouldn’t be worth it trading for a back end starter as we have loads of them.. Unfortunately thats about all he’ll get us right now. The twins will probably keep him, get him a lot of AB’s and hope he’s a type A at the end of the year.
Here is to hoping Thome hits at least 25 home runs and knocks Sosa down a notch…I am pulling for you Thome.
So the Twins have everybody back and healthy( if Pavano signs), except for the 4 guys missing from last years pen. Who is going to get all of those innings?
And Hudson and Hardy. Hudson FA and Hardy traded.
Scott Diamond will get a shot, he’s a rule 5 pick-up from the Braves. Unless he’s beyond awful, I don’t see how he doesn’t make the team. If Pavano does come back, that pushes one of the rotation guys to the pen…so that’s two holes. They’ll probably have to sign at least one guy, but otherwise I’m sure the fourth spot will be taken by someone else in the minors (Slama or someone else). Carlos Gutierrez would be a possibility by mid-season if not before.
I forgot about Hardy and I’m hoping Hudson out and Nishioka will be a wash.
Casilla as the everyday shortstop could be a problem.
One more proven guy for the pen and an upgrade at short and the Twins are looking really good.
Yeah, I agree with that. Casilla has to prove he’s more than a part time player. We’ll see on that one.