The Thome Pipe Dream
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The Thome Pipe Dream
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
The first thing you need to understand is that the Major League Baseball commissioner's office wields a significant amount of behind-the-scenes power when it comes to the machinations of its 30 member clubs. Some clubs heed the office's wishes more than others, but there are plenty of ways in which Bud Selig can apply diplomatic pressure to team Presidents, from the scheduling of regular season games to the awarding of All-Star Games to the approving of trades that involve money changing hands.
The second thing you need to understand is that any attempt by Jim Thome and the Phillies to circumvent baseball's convoluted waiver process will be universally protested by the rest of the teams in the majors. And for good reason. The waiver process exists as it does for plenty of reasons, particularly to avoid late-season roster moves that could unfairly tip the balance of power in a postseason race.
Thome landing with the Phillies would not necessarily result in such a power shift. He would be used as a pinch-hitter and, if it gets to that point, a designated hitter in the World Series. Now, the Phillies would love to have him, and anybody who watched Thome's post-600-home-run praise of Charlie Manuel realizes that the feeling is likely mutual. Aside from the Phillies' need for a left-handed power bat on the bench, there a slew of sentimental factors in play. Thome wants a World Series ring. Thome and Manuel love each other like few player/coach tandems I have ever seen. Thome is often credited with giving the Phillies their first whiff of legitimacy by signing with them the year before Citizens Bank Park opened.
Paul Hagen did a nice job last week of detailing the steps that would have to occur for Thome to land in Philly. According to Fox Sports' tireless Ken Rosenthal, the Twins placed the slugger on trade waivers today. But the Phillies have almost no shot at claiming him, which is what they would need to do in order to work out a deal. They have the last crack at him in the National League, thanks to their best-in-the-majors record. And because Thome is owed about $600,000 for the rest of the season, he is sure to be claimed by a team in front of the Phillies. Even if that team does not need a player like Thome, they can place a claim on him in order to block the Phillies from having a shot at him.
Assuming that happens, the only way for the Phillies to sign Thome would be for the Twins to release him, which would then allow him to sign with the team of his choosing. For that to happen, both the Twins and the Phillies would risk the ire of the rest of the teams in the sport, who have already watched Ruben Amaro Jr. swing trade after trade over the last couple of years.
Can it happen? Sure. Will it? The chance is close to zero.
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Bring him back to Philly!!!— slade1955- If I remember correctly, Paul Hagen also said that Thome has the right to veto any deal because of his no-trade clause and would thus become a free agent, allowing any team, including the Phils, to sign him. Besides, I don't think Amaro and the Phils care nearly as much about hurting feelings around MLB as they do about do everything they can to win a World Series.— riles1875
- I also thought he could veto any team that picked him off wire. — dennismithusa
Comment removed.- get over it people, he is not coming here— andrewc23
- thnx for killing the dream Murph.— bdawkisgod
- This comment has been deleted.— AvoidSundanceVacations
- his best role is as a second baseman. don't just avoid sundance vacations, avoid thought too! — wobblie
- Claim him and see Shay happens— Ssteve115
- Comment removed.
- They would not have traded him as they wanted the PR when he just hit number 600 — dennismithusa
- who cares about the league's thoughts etc. this is a stupid article. what about all of the wheeling and dealing the Yankess and Red Sox do?? Thome is coming back.— Wise_Owl
- If another team claims him, the twins can pull him back.— mikemaddog
- The Clock is running let's have a curtain call for Mr. Thome http://mlbbuzz.yardbarker.com/blog/mlbbuzz/thome_others_on_trade_waivers/6294640?new_post=true— slapback
- I think the Twins would be more worried about what the other teams think than the Phils. This column was probably accurate about Thome's chances for getting back here but I still wouldn't be surprised to see him as a Phillie again!— jck
- He is too old and slow. Ben Franciso will be fine.— Tyrone7
- except he doesnt play the outfield and ben francisco is right handed. what are you talking about? — wobblie
- Ben Francisco is not fine for anything. By the way, put a pair of glasses on him and he's Steve Urkel. — tsmagnum73
- Censored?— Mark1npt
- Do it. Win now!— EDDYEDEAGLES
- Oh, but Scot Rolen can bend the Phillies over and tell them he'd better get traded cause he won't re-sign, but only to a NL team within 100 mi of his home in the midwest, specifically the Cubs or Cards...and the Phillies have to work out a worthless trade for him at the deadline because both those teams know, it's take the stiffs we're giving you or you get next to nothing when he walks in the offseason? Or how about Schilling telling them he'll take a trade to his AZ home but nowhere else? Please, players esp those the status of Thome can and do request their releases toward the end of their careers in order to see if they can find one last place to play before hanging it up. Jim should do that and sign with the Phils......rest of the league, esp Bud can just sit there and take it right up the....., as we've had to in the past.— Mark1npt
- I think Murphy is overrating the move. Thome isn't going to shift the power in the post season any more than Mike Sweeney did last year or Thome did in 2009. It's a neat, feel good story that is good for MLB, but adding a 40 year old who can't play the field and who isn't an experienced pinch hitter isn't going to realign the stars in the post season. There is no need for anyone to block the move nor complain.— jtj06
- As much as I'd love to have him back... I'd hate to see a current player to lose a spot.— dennismithusa
- The roster spot he would be taking would be ROSS GLOAD.
Since July 1st, Gload is hitting .120
Right now Gload who is playing hurt with the bad hip belongs on the D/L since the Phils are getting NO production from Gload.
Remember, Phils would not have won the 2008 championship without Matt Stairs.— johnpaulcpa - September call-ups are a week away. Someone would only lose their spot for a few days, then the rosters expand. Then when playoffs roll around, they won't carry all these bullpen pitchers, so there'll be plenty of room for everyone. — tsmagnum73
- excellent point Mark1npt
If the Twins actually did put Thome on waivers they did a class act.
Landing with the Phillies won't be universally protested by the rest of baseball. Thome may be the most universally admired and respected player in the game. A player of his stature with a career nears it's end deserves one last chance at a WS ring. I applaud the Twins for giving him that chance.— bleedgreen - Francisco will be fine? He is a RH bat. Thome is a lefty and would provide the pop and patience that Gload isn't. And yes, seeing as he would be a pinch hitter, he really wouldn't shift power to the Phils. This team is already good enough to win w/o him, it would just be shoring up one of the two problem areas this team as left (another LH reliever being the other)— ESFjellin
- Ben Francisco is RIGHTHANDED. The Phils need a lefty off the bench. Gload isn't cutting it--his last hit was a double against SF when they played in Philly last month--he's hitting below .100 since July 1. Because of Thome's no trade clause, he could veto any trade that the Twins try to make with whomever claims him. He would forfeit the rest of his pay and become a FA--free then to sign with whatever team he chooses.— bobbyuk
- I never ever gave up on Cliff Lee coming back.......anything can happen :)
— mick1107 - NFL boss gave Michale Vick to the Eagles, he didn't care about hurting the other teams feelings.....Selig also should allow Thome to come to the Phillies.— frank105
- why? just because it will make phillies fans happy? unless the twins save money on the deal or get something in return, why would they let thome go? to be nice? — wobblie
- Oh my God! Thome back in Philly? That would be prefect. Will it happen? I suppose the chances are slim. But then again, how many of us thought Cliff Lee would be wearing Phils pinstripes again last winter? Nothing's impossible. But the— doug1834
Franciso will be fine? Ha the guy hasn't played in weeks!!!!— jamarder- Twins will release Thome...then Thome can choose any team he wants to play for....He will certainly chose Manuel and the Phillies..simple and legal, and no teams will squak because they want Thome to have a shot at the World Series.— frank105
- When I pass the Target Field on the way to work tomorrow, I will leave a note...— Philly Fan in Kuwait
- why is this an issue. thome can go where he wants. gload can't get it done. get jim dl gload and let's go eat— rysagr
- Rangers,Angels and Cleveland in AL could use him. Arizona and Phillies are only logical in NL. SanFran and Milwaukee do not need him. Chances higher than many would expect that he will end up with the Phillies.
Milwaukee, knowing they are not going anywhere, is trying to give Thome a chance to play for the Phillies and Charlie Manuel in what is probably his final year.
Other contending teams know this and it will be interesting if they put in a claim for him, knowing that Thome really is only interested in Philly.
Respect for a player of Thome's stature may keep other teams from putting in a claim.— candidly - READ MY LIPS:Does anyone doubt that if Ruben wants Thome, Ruben will get Thome? Remember Halladay, Oswalt, Lee, Pence, etc.?— SEEK313
- He has a lock down no trade, if he doesn't want to go to a team he can veto it. The Twins will want to do what's right by him, hence keeping him until he hit those last few home runs. It's pretty much going to be up to him where he plays next.— Badhog
- He has a lock down no trade, if he doesn't want to go to a team he can veto it. The Twins will want to do what's right by him, hence keeping him until he hit those last few home runs. It's pretty much going to be up to him where he plays next.— Badhog
- C'mon. Do you really think ALL (or even a majority of) the other teams in baseball if A) the Phils picked up a pinch-hitter and B)Thome, who is beloved like no other player among his peers, got to end his career the way he wants?
Sure some would. But— VicM - Comment removed.
- "The first thing you need to understand..." Murphy, thanks for the lecture - you are a such a baseball insider.— psu05
- Ha, ha! Exactly my point in my post. What does he know? What background does he have. He's more concerned with changing up his look when he goes on Daily News Live. Last night he had the really short sleeves (that were shorter than his farmer's tan) and dumb looking glasses. He's also the guy who was on vacation or something during trade deadline week. Of all weeks to take off as a Phillies beat writer, that's the week you choose? — tsmagnum73
- now the people on these posts are fashion police? what do you know? he is actuay around the team everyday. you watch them at home on TV. i will take the writer's word over yours everyday. — wobblie
- First of all, I know how to spell. What the heck is "actuay"? Second of all, taking the writer's word over mine every day (Should be two words in this context. Not one like you have it.) is why you will continue to be misinformed. — tsmagnum73
- Murphy, once again, you've outdone yourself. Baseball is a game that transcends the statistical, the sabremetrical, the mere analogs of performance. The heart of this game remains in the human variables which will never be captured by your stone-cold anaylses. On so many levels, the return of JT to this club is right. Such compelling karma would be evident to anyone with a heart or a soul. Your audience deserves better, much better.— defg0003
- "Release Thome," set him free!— Doc1947
- Get immediate input from EZ and follow that road.— NewMick314
- Oh, and I'm sure Bud Selig would be totally fair and diplomatic considering his Brewers are playoff bound on a collision course with the Phils. By the way, can people please stop calling Murphy "Murph"? Only cool people get nicknames. I can't take anything he says seriously. What the heck does he know?— tsmagnum73
- Put
Put Gload on DL and bring Jim Thome to the Fightin Phils so he can get some work at first. It appears Mr. Howards defensive skills are good, but his hitting doesn't warrant the huge salary he is being paid!!!
--wizkidmike
— wizkidmike - Thome has played four games in the field since he left the Phils. When we get him, I would have him start taking grounders at first, and then when we've sewn things up, start playing him at first a few games to give Howard a rest, get Thome reacclimated with the field and get him some ABs. — tsmagnum73
- Carve it in stone: Jim Thome will become a Phillie before August 31. He is one of baseball's true class acts, and his entire career has been exemplary. MLB will want to give Thome the chance to win a world series before he retires and aeaits his call from the hall of Fame. Every other team in MLB claiming Thome off waivers is overstated. Non-contenders are not interested in paying $600,000 to rent a 41-year-old pinch hitter for two months. Most contenders already have their lineups set. The Phils are one of the few teams that have a meaningful connection to Thome, and Thome most likely wants to finish what he started in Philly. He helped point the Phils in the right direction when he played for the team, and he undoubteldy would like to receive his world series ring while standing next to his mentor, Charlie Manuel.— onthebucks
- Put Gload on the
d
Put
Put Gload on the DL and try to get Big Jim back where he would want to finish his great baseball career. He could get some playing time at firstbase and also some needed
a
Put
Put Gload on the
Bring Jim Thome back where he would want to be helping the Phils try to get to another WS. He could get some playing at time at firstbase and also some AB. This would also give Mr. Howard some time in the batting cage which he sorely needs.
— wizkidmike - If the Indians did claim Thome, I can't see him rejecting them simply for the opportunity to come to the Phils. Thome's not that kind of guy. If it were any team other than Cleveland, I could see him doing that, but not if it's Cleveland.— Bretzky
- The first thing that David needs to understand is that his debby-downeresque and counter-Pence advocation of Carlos Beltran coming to the Phillies wasn't supported by facts in the latter portion of July and is even less supported by the facts in the last week of August. The second thing that David needs to understand is that tossing Jim Thome under the bus only solidifies his record of habitual launching of turds into the Philadelphia sports punchbowl. The third thing that David needs to understand is that his hubris and sour and rancid facial body language on DAILY NEWS LIVE is counterproductive to his chances of having a long successfull career in the Delaware Valley. The fourth thing that David needs to understand is that he needs to publically admit that he was not correct in advocating Beltran over Pence coming to the Phillies. My sense is that his arrogance will prevent him from understanding of the these four things that he needs to understand.— vail43
- Thome is a much better optioned than the one the Phils have now...which is none. Gload is horrible at best...rather see Cliff Lee pinch hit...probably has more hits.— Phillyfan666
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