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Re: General Discussion

1681 by rusty2
Sources: Indians make claim on Thome
Sources say Jim Thome would rather end up with Phillies.


BIO | EMAIL
Ken Rosenthal has been the senior baseball writer for FOXSports.com since August 2005. He appears weekly on MLB on FOX. Follow him on Twitter.


Updated Aug 25, 2011 1:00 PM ET

Twins designated hitter Jim Thome was claimed on waivers by the Cleveland Indians, while outfielder Jason Kubel was claimed by the Chicago White Sox, according to major-league sources.

The claims do not mean that either player will change teams. The Twins can trade Thome and/or Kubel. They also can keep one or both or allow one or both to leave on a claim.

Thome, who holds a full no-trade clause, and can reject any deal. He prefers the Phillies to the Indians, one source said, but it’s doubtful he could circumvent the waiver process to land with Philadelphia.

Kubel, meanwhile, is unlikely to be traded, sources said. The Twins likely would offer him arbitration in an attempt to re-sign him, and would want the equivalent of at least a high draft pick in return.

The Twins must decide on Thome and Kubel by 1 p.m. ET Friday. The Indians are six games out in the AL Central, the White Sox 61/2 out. But Thome could fit well in Cleveland, and the same is true of Kubel in Chicago.

The Indians are without designated hitter Travis Hafner, who is on the disabled list with a strained right foot. The White Sox are missing right fielder Carlos Quentin, who is battling a shoulder problem.

The only way for Thome to get to the Phillies would be if the Twins pulled him off trade waivers and placed him on release waivers. Thome could then reject every team that claims him but the Phillies.

Such a ploy, however, would require Thome to forfeit the rest of his salary, about $500,000. It also would require the cooperation of the Twins, who would receive nothing in return for their popular slugger.

Rival clubs almost certainly would protest such a manipulation of the waiver process. Thome, who recently hit his 600th home run, could even suffer a hit to his image.

Kubel, who is owed about $900,000, has talked with the Twins about a possible contract extension. Both he and Thome are eligible for free agency at the end of the season.

Re: General Discussion

1682 by joez
Tribe reportedly claims Thome off waivers

Conflicting reports indicate White Sox may have claimed slugger

By Zack Meisel / MLB.com

CLEVELAND --

Jim Thome played in Cleveland for 12 years, racking up a franchise-record 334 home runs. He might have the opportunity to add to that total.

The Twins placed the 40-year-old slugger on waivers on Monday. The Indians put a claim on Thome on Wednesday, according to reports. The only impediment keeping Minnesota and Cleveland from discussing a trade for the designated hitter, however, could be the White Sox.

Conflicting reports have indicated that Chicago -- a half-game behind Cleveland for second place in the American League Central -- may have also put a claim on Thome. The White Sox left-handed designated hitter, Adam Dunn, is batting just .165.

The waiver wire favors teams with worse win-loss records, so the White Sox would have the nod to negotiate with the Twins if they put in a claim and no other AL team with a worse record did. They would have 48 hours to work out a deal, or the Twins could pull Thome off waivers.

The Indians' laundry list of injuries could make Thome a good fit. Designated hitter Travis Hafner is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right foot, which could require season-ending surgery.

In 70 games this season, Thome is batting .248 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs. Earlier this month, he became the eighth player in Major League history to hit 600 long balls.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: General Discussion

1685 by J.R.
Thome and Kubel claimed by AL Central teams

August 25, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota Twins designated hitter Jim Thome and right fielder Jason Kubel have both been claimed off waivers by two American League Central teams, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Thome was claimed by his former club, the Cleveland Indians, while the Chicago White Sox claimed Kubel, reports Rosenthal. Thome spent his first 12 seasons with the Indians. Kubel, meanwhile, has been with the Twins since breaking into the majors in 2004.

While both players have been claimed, that doesn't necessarily mean they're on the move. The Twins have until noon CT on Friday to make trades with Chicago or Cleveland, and they can also pull either player off waivers.

Both Thome and Kubel were in Minnesota's lineup for Thursday's series finale against the Baltimore Orioles.

"There's some names out there that everybody's talking about. We know that, and that's going to happen," Gardenhire said Wednesday. "But if we can control it or not, we can't. The trade deadline happens. You just have to live with it and hopefully move on. These guys are professional enough just to play."

Thome, 40, recently hit his 600th career home run and will be a free agent after the season. The 21-year veteran has admitted that he'd like to win a World Series before his career is over, although Cleveland currently sits six games behind Detroit in the American League Central.

Kubel, 29, will be a free agent after the 2011 season. He's making $5.25 million this season, and Rosenthal reports Kubel is owed about $900,000 the rest of the season. Kubel spent time on the disabled list with a sprained foot, and is batting .290 with nine homers and 45 RBIs in 81 games prior to Thursday.

Re: General Discussion

1686 by rusty2
No longer any assumptions. Indians claimed Thome and the White Sox claimed Kubel. Thome has a no trade clause so he would have to accept any trade to the Indians. Sounds like Thome would rather be released and go play with the Phillies.

As usual, Thome is all about Thome.

Re: General Discussion

1689 by rusty2
The Astros wanted Wilin Rosario or Drew Pomeranz for Wandy Rodriguez, but the Rockies were only offering Jason Hammel, Casey Weathers or Christian Friedrich, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Talks between the two teams reached a standstill yesterday, after the Rockies claimed Rodriguez earlier in the week.

Re: General Discussion

1691 by joez
I can't help but get the chills at the prospect of Jim Thome coming back home. Sorry folks! But that's the way I feel.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: General Discussion

1692 by joez
I won't name names but there are a couple of others Indians I wouldn't mind seeing back home.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller
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