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BREAKING NEWS: Indians Claim Jim Thome Off Waivers, Working On Deal With Twins To Bring Slugger

Back To Cleveland

Posted by Glenn S. Moore on August 25th, 2011

With Travis Hafner in a walking boot, the Cleveland Indians need some offense as they sit six games back of the Detroit Tigers in the American League Central. And the Indians have called on an old friend to be that guy.

The Minnesota Twins placed Jim Thome on waivers and while many teams were in the hunt for Thome’s services, which included the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago White Sox, the Indians were able to claim the 41-year old lefty on Wednesday.

First reported on the DSS twitter feed, the Indians and Twins have been working out a deal since Wednesday afternoon. Thome was in the lineup for the Twins game against the Baltimore Orioles. No indication at this time has been made if a deal has been worked out.


4:00PM Wedneday afternoon.
The Chicago White Sox were the team first reported to have claimed Thome from the Twins. Thome left on good terms with the White Sox and manager Ozzie Guillen said he would welcome back the slugger.

But Indians executives have been working all evening on a deal that would bring Thome back to Cleveland in hopes of some old magic that would help the Tribe over-take the Tigers. While Thome is not the same hitter he used to be when he last wore an Indians uniform, he will help fill the hole left by an injured Hafner.

From Ask BA

Brad (MO): What infield would you rather have for the next 5 years: C. Santana, LaPorta, Kipinis, A. Cabrera, and Chisenhall or S. Perez, Hosmer, Giavotella, A. Escobar, and Moustakas [Royals]? What group has the higher offensive ceiling?

Jim Callis: If we're counting catchers as infielders, I'd take the Indians crew. Position by position, I prefer Santana, Hosmer, Kipnis and Cabrera, and Moustakas vs. Chisenhall is going to be close. I don't think LaPorta is going to be anything special, but the other four Indians all could be well above-average offensively for their positions, so they get the higher combined ceiling.

The Thome situation is very confusing! If you want to follow all the tweets, go here:
http://twitter.com/#!/search/realtime/thome

Buster_ESPN Buster Olney
Sources:Twins are having trade talks with the Indians, presumably about Jim Thome and/or Jason Kubel. Both were claimed by a team Wednesday.
22 minutes ago

Tribe reportedly claims Thome off waivers

Slugger's no-trade clause may factor in negotiations with Twins
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 08/25/11 2:57 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- Jim Thome once said that his Indians jersey would have to be ripped from his broad shoulders in order for him to suit up for another ballclub.

After nine years spent with four different teams, Thome's torn threads have been put in the past and Cleveland appears ready to offer him a fresh uniform. On Thursday, reports swirled that the Indians and Twins were engaged in trade talks that would result in kind of a homecoming for the veteran slugger.

Minnesota placed Thome on waivers on Monday and Cleveland reportedly put in a claim on Wednesday, making a bid to bring him back to the city where his historic career began. A deal did not appear imminent on Thursday, though the two sides have until 1 p.m. ET Friday to complete a trade.






This deal might ultimately be up to Thome.

The 40-year-old Thome has a full no-trade clause as part of the one-year, $3 million contract he signed with the Twins for this season. The left-handed slugger is owed roughly $500,000 for the remainder of the season, making him an affordable addition for a Cleveland club that is currently without its designated hitter.

Cleveland DH and cleanup hitter Travis Hafner -- who considered Thome a role model as he was coming up through the Tribe's Minor League system -- is on the disabled list with a strained tendon in the bottom of his right foot and might be done for the season. That makes this as good a time as any to bring Thome back into the fold.

Thome was selected by the Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 First-Year Player Draft, and he debuted with the Tribe at the age of 20 in 1991. Thome went on to spend a dozen seasons with the Indians, launching a franchise-record 334 home runs and earning his way onto three All-Star teams.

This could be a chance for Thome, who recently became only the eighth player in Major League history to hit 600 home runs, to potentially finish his career where it started. In doing so, he could also find some forgiveness from a fan base that has not forgotton his comments prior to entering free agency after the 2002 season.

Apparently, the Phillies found a way to rip Thome's jersey off his body.

After launching a single-season club record of 52 home runs in the 2002 tour, Thome penned his name on a six-year contract worth $85 million with Philadelphia. Thome spent three seasons slugging for the Phillies before having stints with the White Sox, Dodgers and Twins.

Through 70 games this season, Thome was batting .248 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

Thome might prefer to land with a more clear contender like the Phillies, considering the Indians have lost six of their past seven games and sat six games behind the first-place Tigers in the American League Central, entering Thursday. Jumping from the Twins to a playoff-bound club is not a simple process, though.

If Thome were to block a trade to Cleveland, he would likely remain with the Twins for the remainder of the season.

Minnesota could pull Thome off revocable waivers -- voiding the Indians' claim -- and then place him on release waivers. Under that scenario, Thome could reject claims by every team until reaching a club he preferred to join, but he would also be required to forfeit the rest of his salary for this season.

Such an approach would likely also create some backlash from other clubs.

There have been mixed reports as to whether the White Sox also put in a claim for Thome on revocable waivers. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, however, Chicago put in a claim for Twins outfielder Jason Kubel -- not for Thome. It looks as though the Tribe is the only team in a position to land Thome.

As a reminder, Manuel was fired as manager on July 12, 2002, and Thome left at the end of that year.

Thome left because he is a pile of crap. If the Indians would have offered more years he would have stayed in Cleveland with or without Charlie "where's my VO" Manuel. What happened in that extra year ?

600 homers a pile of crap, eh? BS

Regaining confidence in fastball key for Ubaldo

By Zack Meisel / MLB.com | 08/25/11 1:43 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- It might be one of the game's most imposing pitches when it's right -- a 99-mph blazing heater with heavy sinking action.

Even when it's not quite up to par, it's usually enough to stymie an opposing hitter. At least, that's what the Indians believe.

Ubaldo Jimenez isn't so sure.

It's not the dip in Jimenez's faseball's velocity or less-formidable stuff that's ailing him. The lack of confidence in the centerpiece of his repertoire seems to be the crux of his recent troubles on the mound.

"You have to pitch off your fastball," said Indians pitching coach Tim Belcher, "especially when you throw as hard as he does."

Through four starts with Cleveland, the right-hander is 1-1 with a 7.29 ERA. In three road outings, he surrendered 17 earned runs in 13 innings (11.77 ERA). More importantly, the Indians lost all three of those games, despite an outpouring of run support. Jimenez's next start -- and opportunity to turn things around -- comes at home on Friday night vs. the Royals.

"He's staying positive," manager Manny Acta said. "Obviously, he's not happy with the results."

The Indians' investment in Jimenez as the anchor of their staff for the next two-plus years was no under-the-table exchange. It's well-documented the hefty price general manager Chris Antonetti paid to acquire the pitcher who opened the 2010 season with a 13-1 record and a 1.15 ERA -- namely, the organization's No. 1 picks from 2009 and '10, Drew Pomeranz and Alex White, respectively.

Pomeranz tossed seven scoreless innings -- retiring the first 19 batters he faced -- in his only start with Double-A Tulsa before undergoing an emergency appendectomy Saturday, ending his season prematurely. In his Rockies debut Tuesday, White yielded five runs in six innings.

Being so green, there's no telling what Pomeranz and White -- both 22 -- will accomplish in Colorado. What the Indians didn't expect, however, was having a similar uncertainty about their return in the deal.

Jimenez battled through groin and thumb injuries throughout the early part of the season with the Rockies, but he quelled all fears of lingering pain when he passed a physical on July 31 to cement the trade. That also hushed talk that injuries caused Jimenez's drop in velocity.

In 2010, when Jimenez finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting, his average fastball clocked 96.1 mph, according to fangraphs.com. This season, that speed has slowed to 93.4 mph, though that still ranks 10th fastest in the Major Leagues.

Antonetti shrugged off the reduction in velocity, attributing it to Jimenez enduring a cyclical rough patch. The Indians adamantly contend that the pitcher is healthy.

"There's been a lot of examples of guys who have had fluctuations in their velocity," Antonetti said. "If you look at Justin Verlander, he had a significant drop in his velocity from 2007 to 2008. He regained it from 2008 to 2009 and hasn't looked back since. That's just one of a litany of examples of guys.

"Pitching at the Major League level for a sustained period of time is exceptionally difficult. Inevitably, there are going to be times when you have better stuff than others. We're confident that Ubaldo is healthy and he'll have the ability to regain that."

Are there other factors hampering Jimenez, or is it just his suffering fastball that's keeping him from replicating his 2010 success?

The lanky right-hander said changing leagues has been a challenge, but can't serve as the scapegoat for his faults.

"You don't know the league or the hitters," he said. "But if you execute your pitches when you go out there, it doesn't matter who you're facing. You're going to get hitters out."

Being traded took its toll on Jimenez, who spent a decade in the Rockies organization.

"I had been through a lot with that team," he said. "It's really challenging when you get traded, but that's part of the game. There's nothing you can do about it, and once you're traded, you have to move on. You have to be happy wherever you are."

It also was awkward for those watching the trade play out on July 30, when the developments of the deal unfolded slowly and painfully.

Pomeranz and White were pulled from their game with Double-A Akron about two hours before Jimenez trotted out to the mound for his scheduled start against the Padres. Knowing he was likely on the move, Jimenez scuffled through a 45-pitch inning, and admitted afterwards that he had trouble focusing on the task at hand.

Jimenez said joining a team in postseason contention provided him a sense of relief, eliminating the impact of the trade on his psyche from the chamber of excuses for his poor pitching.

"If you're going to get traded," Jimenez said, "in a perfect world, you get traded to a team that's playing really well, because every game means a lot. You're not going to come to the ballpark and just play for nothing. Everything counts."

But to remain in contention, the Indians need a peaking Jimenez. Belcher thinks it starts with one pitch, no matter how hard he's throwing it.

"Everybody's made so much about his velocity being down, but [his fastball] is still 94 mph," Belcher said. "Everybody should be so lucky to have their velocity down and it still be 94 mph. He pitched all of 2010 with an average fastball of 96 mph.

"So all of a sudden when you're out there and your average fastball is 92-94 mph, there's probably times when he probably does feel like his fastball might be a little short and insignificant."

"Pitching at the Major League level for a sustained period of time is exceptionally difficult. Inevitably, there are going to be times when you have better stuff than others. We're confident that Ubaldo is healthy and he'll have the ability to regain that."
-- Indians general manager Chris Antonetti
Belcher insists that's not the case. He said a Jimenez fastball, even at a reduced speed, can be effective and allow him set up his offspeed pitches.

"It's a challenge to get him to continue to commit to the fastball and pound the zone with it." Belcher said. "But it's still good enough."

That wasn't the case in his most recent start -- a 3 1/3-inning effort Sunday in Detroit, where he allowed eight runs and nine hits. Jimenez's fastball averaged 93 mph, and he bailed on it pretty quickly, throwing it on just 22.9 percent of his pitches.

Only once did a Tigers hitter swing and miss at a Jimenez heater, continuing a frightening downward trend. In 2008, Jimenez's swinging strike percentage was 9.6 percent. That number dipped to 9.1 percent last season and has plummeted to 7.7 percent this year.

Jimenez demonstrated confidence in the pitch during his lone start at home on Aug. 10, when he allowed three unearned runs in eight innings of a 10-3 win against Detroit.

"I had really good command of my fastball," Jimenez said. "Then after that, I was able to throw my breaking ball for strikes."

That's the sequence Belcher would like to see more of -- using the fastball to set up Jimenez's changeup, splitter and curve.

The Indians have two more years for their pricy trade to pay off. But they don't want to have to wait to reap the benefits of making a splash at the non-waiver Trade Deadline. The addition of Jimenez was supposed to relieve some of the pain the franchise's fans still felt after parting ways with CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez in recent summers.

So far, it's added nothing but salt to the wound.

"We made sure we let him know when he came over here that he wasn't here to save this team," Acta said.

Jimenez won't identify himself as a savior of sorts, but holds a high enough standard for himself that his performance thus far in Cleveland can't be classified as anything other than a disappointment.

"I still put pressure on myself, because I want to be good," he said. "I want to try to help the team."

For Jimenez to re-establish the makeup that made him one of the NL's most feared hurlers, Belcher said, he'll need to trust his stuff. A fastball with less zip might not scare off as many hitters, but Belcher continues to preach that it can still do the trick.

"When guys feel like their fastball is not what it should be, they might tend to go to their offspeed stuff a bit more," Belcher said. "We're trying to make him aware of that, make sure he guards against that and continues to use his fastball."

The Indians don't have time to give Jimenez's mechanics an extreme makeover. Three mph aren't going to magically reappear on his fastball. With a month left in the regular season and the Indians clinging to dimming playoff hopes, they need Jimenez to fight through any mechanical flaws or mental hurdles.

"The here and now is we need him ready to pitch every fifth day now to win," Belcher said. "That's why the changes have to be small and very incremental, so that we don't go backwards.

"I'd rather take a small step forward in search of a small step forward than take a large step backward in search of a large step forward."

BernieKosarQB Bernie Kosar
I know it's football gameday, but I hope Jim Thome ends up back with the Tribe.
8 hours ago

JohnTelich8 john telich
Get ready for Thome...should be in uniform tomorrow,,per reports..@DugoutSportShow no official confirmation from Tribe yet
22 minutes ago

1500ESPNJudd Judd Zulgad
Jim Thome ended an interview session after I asked if he wanted to be here. Veteran scribes say I'm first to tick him off. Hard to believe.

JohnTelich8 john telich
Deal is done..Thome an Indian..Be in uni tomorrow
1 minute ago

Jimmy's number is still available.

Jim Thome traded back to Cleveland

By TOM WITHERS, AP Sports Writer
3 minutes ago

CLEVELAND (AP)—Jim Thome(notes) has swung back to the Cleveland Indians.

The slugger accepted a trade from Minnesota on Thursday night to return to the Indians, who are hoping their career leader in home runs can help them catch first-place Detroit in the AL Central.

Thome spent 12 seasons with Cleveland from 1991-2002, hitting a team-record 334 homers and helping the Indians get to two World Series. He hit 52 in his final season before signing as a free agent with Philadelphia, a decision that angered many Indians fans who will have to welcome him back.


Earlier this month, the five-time All-Star became the eighth player in history to hit 600 homers.

The 40-year-old Thome waived a no-trade clause in his contract to clear his return to the Indians, who have been in contention all season but have lost six of their last seven games amid a rash of injuries. Thome’s arrival will soften the loss of designated hitter Travis Hafner(notes), who is on the disabled list and may need season-ending foot surgery.

The Indians put a claim in for Thome on Wednesday, two days after the Twins waived him. Once the Indians were awarded Thome, the clubs had 48 hours to work out a trade. The Twins will receive a player to be named by Oct. 15.

Thome’s bat once helped Cleveland twice get close to its first Series title since 1948, and now the Indians hope it still has a little magic.

“What If?” team president Mark Shapiro tweeted, using the team’s 2011 motto. “Jim Thome came home.”

After finishing 25 games out in 2010, the Indians weren’t expected to contend this season, but have been at or near the top of their division since April. However, as August drains to its final days, the Indians have slipped back in the standings and trail the Tigers by 6 1/2 as they enter a three-game series against Kansas City.

The Twins are 16 games behind, which is why they decided to part with Thome, who has also played for the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.

On his most recent visit to Cleveland, the Peoria, Ill., native said he would relish a chance to finish his career where it began. Thome’s return will probably give the Indians an immediate attendance boost, and may help some of the fans who couldn’t forgive him for leaving despite saying his Indians jersey would have to be torn off for him to go anywhere else.

A skinny third baseman when he came up, Thome, along with fellow All-Stars Sandy Alomar Jr., Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Manny Ramirez(notes) and Carlos Baerga formed the core of the Indians’ teams that dominated their division in the `90s and went to the World Series in 1995 and 1997—losing both times.

Thome’s big swing, a blend of quickness, power and follow-through, and his aw-shucks attitude, made him one of Cleveland’s most popular players. That changed, though, following the `02 season.

As a free agent, Thome turned down a generous, long-term contract from the Indians—who even offered to build a statue in his honor—for a chance to win in Philadelphia. At the time, he felt the Phillies were closer to a title than the Indians, who were in the early stages of a massive rebuilding project.

Thome had a memorable first season in Minnesota, leading the team with 25 homers in just 276 at-bats with the Twins in 2010. His aching back felt better than it had in years, and he was energized by the youthful energy surrounding him as he helped the Twins run away with the division crown.

Thome had several suitors as a free agent in the offseason. He ultimately decided to return to the Twins, thinking a nucleus of Joe Mauer(notes), Justin Morneau(notes) and Michael Cuddyer(notes) would help him capture the World Series championship that has eluded him all these years. But his second season in Minnesota hasn’t gone nearly as well. He has struggled with injuries to his back, toe and quadriceps that have slowed that mighty left-handed swing of his, and Mauer and Morneau have also been out for long stretches.

Thome surpassed the 600-homer mark with two blasts at Detroit earlier this month, the lone highlight this season.

Thome waives no-trade, returns to Indians

Slugger spent first 12 seasons of career in Cleveland

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 08/25/11 9:35 PM ET

CLEVELAND -- Jim Thome once said that his Indians jersey would have to be ripped from his broad shoulders in order for him to suit up for another club.

After nine years spent with four different teams, Thome's torn threads have been put in the past and Cleveland appears ready to offer him a fresh uniform. On Thursday, the Indians and Twins completed a trade that serves as a kind of homecoming for the veteran slugger.

The Indians acquired Thome -- Cleveland's all-time home run king -- in exchange for a player to be named.

"Jim Thome is a Hall of Fame-caliber player and person," Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said in a press release. "He has meant so much to this organization -- both on and off the field -- and it is an honor to bring him back to finish out the season in an Indians uniform where he created so many great memories.

"Having his bat and presence in the middle of our lineup certainly improves our team."

Minnesota placed Thome on waivers on Monday and Cleveland put in a claim on Wednesday, making a bid to bring him back to the city where his historic career began. The two sides had until Friday to finalize a trade, but Thome waived his no-trade clause and the deal came to fruition Thursday night.

Thome is expected to be in the Indians' lineup for Friday's game against the Royals at Progressive Field.

Cleveland and Minnesota have until Oct. 15 to reach an agreement on which player will join the Twins organization to complete the trade.

The 40-year-old Thome's no-trade protection was part of the one-year, $3 million contract he signed with the Twins for this season. The left-handed slugger is owed roughly $500,000 for the remainder of the season, making him an affordable addition for a Cleveland club that is without its designated hitter.

Cleveland DH and cleanup hitter Travis Hafner -- who considered Thome a role model as he was coming up through the Minors -- is on the disabled list with a strained tendon in the bottom of his right foot and might be done for the season. That made this as good a time as any to bring Thome back into the fold.

Thome was selected by the Indians in the 13th round of the 1989 First-Year Player Draft, and he debuted with the Tribe at the age of 20 in 1991. Thome went on to spend a dozen seasons with the Indians, launching a franchise-record 334 home runs and earning his way onto three All-Star teams.

Beyond his franchise homer mark, Thome also ranks first in Indians history with 997 walks. On the club's all-time list, Thome ranks second in RBIs (927), third in extra-base hits (613), slugging percentage (.567) and on-base percentage (.414), fourth in total bases (2,633) and fifth in runs scored (917).

This was a chance for Thome, who recently became only the eighth player in Major League history to hit 600 home runs, to potentially finish his career where it started. In doing so, he might also find some forgiveness from a fan base that has not forgotten his comments prior to entering free agency after the 2002 season.

Apparently, the Phillies found a way to rip Thome's jersey off his body.

After launching a single-season club record of 52 home runs in the 2002 tour, Thome penned his name on a six-year contract worth $85 million with Philadelphia. Thome spent three seasons slugging for the Phillies before having stints with the White Sox, Dodgers and Twins.

In 71 games for Minnesota this season, Thome hit .243 with 12 homers and 40 RBIs.

Thome might have preferred to land with a more clear contender like the Phillies, considering the Indians have lost six of their past seven games and are 6 1/2 games behind the first-place Tigers in the American League Central. Jumping from the Twins to a playoff-bound club would not have been a simple process, though.

If Thome had blocked a trade, he would likely have remained with the Twins for the remainder of the season.

The only other option would be for Minnesota to pull Thome off revocable waivers -- voiding the Indians' claim -- before placing him on release waivers. Under that scenario, Thome could have rejected claims by every team until reaching a club he preferred to join, but he would also be required to forfeit the rest of his salary for this season.

Such an approach would likely also create some backlash from other clubs.

It was also extremely unlikely in this particular situation.

This was a chance for Thome to once again put on the jersey and hat of the team he will likely represent if he is one day enshrined in baseball's Hall of Fame.

A skinny third baseman when he came up, Thome, along with fellow All-Stars Sandy Alomar Jr., Albert Belle, Kenny Lofton, Manny Ramirez(notes) and Carlos Baerga formed the core of the Indians’ teams that dominated their division in the `90s and went to the World Series in 1995 and 1997—losing both times.

All steroid users.