http://www.fox8.com/sports/sns-rt-bbo-twins-newss2551d4da1-20110825,0,2454655.story

Reuters

1:53 p.m. EDT, August 25, 2011

The Sports Xchange

Report: Indians awarded claim on Jim Thome

The Cleveland Indians have been awarded the waiver claim on Twins' DH Jim Thome, reports FoxSports' Ken Rosenthal.

This is just the first step in Thome returning to Cleveland. The Twins could decide to pull Thome back and release him, which would let Thome sign with any club he chooses. They could also decide to trade him to the Indians, but that would hinge on Thome as he has a no-trade clause in contract.

The window to trade Thome closes after 48 hours, at which point he would become a free agent.

Thome has indicated that he'd like to play in Philadelphia, where he spent three years and hit 96 home runs from 2003-05. If Thome rejects a trade to Cleveland, he could then invoke his trade clause to every team but the Phillies, where he'd have a shot at winning his first World Series ring.

The 40-year-old slugger is hitting .248 with 12 home runs and 40 RBI in 238 plate appearances this season.

To be honest...

even if we get Thome, The Indians Season is basically...TOAST!

It looks unlikely to me that Jim Thome will return to Cleveland. It looks like he will either end up in Philly or stay in Minnesota. Though nothing is written in stone!

That's why I like the game of baseball so much - anything can happen. Plus, to quote the great Yogi Berra, "it ain't over till it's over"!!

It's officially a done deal!!!

http://cleveland.indians.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110825&content_id=23729390&vkey=news_cle&c_id=cle

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.

Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Major League Bastian, and follow him on Twitter @MLBastian. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

O.K. So I was wrong. And I don't mind being wrong in this case. I hope Jim Thome's homecoming will be a happy one!

^ Not to mention a productive one!!!!

Is Thome playing tonight?

I'm not sure - I would think he would be.

Is Thome playing tonight?
In the article Monika posted above it says "Thome is expected to be in the Indians line-up for Fridays game against the Royals at Progressive Field".

He was indeed!! I was at the game with my brother and his best friend, and I made sure I had my camera going when he came up for his first AB. I even posted it up on YouTube!!!!

QhfVUYI90Jg

He was indeed!! I was at the game with my brother and his best friend, and I made sure I had my camera going when he came up for his first AB. I even posted it up on YouTube!!!!

QhfVUYI90Jg

I was at that game yesterday...it was a great game.

I got SRO Seats, but I later got seats to watch the fireworks.

You were there, too? Awesome! I went to the game with my brother and his best friend. We'd originally had tickets for the game on May 14th that was called due to rain. I exchanged them at the team shop for this game weeks ago (I think at the end of July) - way before any of us had any inkling of who would be returning to the team!! :lol: Mainly, I chose the date because my brother has Fridays off - and because of Dollar Dog Night and the fireworks show. :D

You were there, too? Awesome! I went to the game with my brother and his best friend. We'd originally had tickets for the game on May 14th that was called due to rain. I exchanged them at the team shop for this game weeks ago (I think at the end of July) - way before any of us had any inkling of who would be returning to the team!! :lol: Mainly, I chose the date because my brother has Fridays off - and because of Dollar Dog Night and the fireworks show. :D

It would've been interesting if we actually saw each other in person, but I got to see these two guys....

^ Sweet!! :cool: :D

Good to see Jim Thome is back in Cleveland. I don't think the Indians are gonna make the playoffs. I thought they might have a chance to make the playoffs when they were in first place earlier but they've dropped to 3rd place in their division. I don't think they could get a wild card.

The injuries sure aren't helping, either. Now we may be without Asdrubal Cabrera (had to leave the game last night after fouling a ball off his knee - he has a contusion and is listed now as day-to-day). The reserves are doing as best they can, but the hopes of getting into the playoffs are getting slimmer by the day. Still, anything can happen - so we'll just have to wait and see!!

Good to see Jim Thome is back in Cleveland. I don't think the Indians are gonna make the playoffs. I thought they might have a chance to make the playoffs when they were in first place earlier but they've dropped to 3rd place in their division. I don't think they could get a wild card.

I now have high doubts that the Indians will be playoff-bound!

That's Cleveland Teams for you.ohno:ohno:ohno:

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

I'm guessing you're laughing about how pathetisad Cleveland Sports Teams Are.

And every time this Mets Joke from "Family Guy" pops-up...It seems to scream-out "Cleveland"!...

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Yes i'm laughing at how pathetic Cleveland teams are. Cavs, Browns, Indians will never win championships hahahahahahahahahahaha. Maybe it might happen when i'm dead LOL.

Yes i'm laughing at how pathetic Cleveland teams are. Cavs, Browns, Indians will never win championships hahahahahahahahahahaha. Maybe it might happen when i'm dead LOL.

True...maybe when I'm dead too.

Flying Pigs seem to be more accurate now than Cleveland ever winning it all!