Jim Thome said he was different from the greedhead players who were only in it for the maximum cash. Thome said his priorities included loyalty to the fans of Cleveland, the Indians organization, and the community (he lives, or I should say, lived right down the street from us in Aurora). Either he changed his mind or he lied: $60 million over five years wasn't enough to keep him on the Indians - he went to the Phillies for $87 million over six years. Sure, $27 million is a boatload of cash, but we are really talking about the difference between $12 and $14.5 million per year - surely a difference one so loyal as he could tolerate.
Hey, whoopie, Thome says he will remain our neighbor:
- "My wife and I want the people to know that we'll always remain in Cleveland," Thome said last night. "This is our home, no matter what.
"The fans of this town mean more to me than they will ever know and I will continue to try and do them proud. Despite what people may assume, this was not just a decision driven by dollars . . . and it was not an easy decision to make."
Thome would not say what finally made him pick the Phillies over the Indians and their five-year, $60 million offer.
"I'll talk about that later," he said. [Plain Dealer]
Meaning: "this was a decision driven by dollars." Yes, the Indians are rebuilding, but the rebuilding will be much more laborious and lengthy with him gone.
Check out Thome's most impressive stats here.
Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes sees grim times ahead for the Tribe:
- Jim Thome, headed for 500 homers and a possible trip to Cooperstown, walked away yesterday. Robbie Alomar, another Hall of Fame candidate, was traded last December. Twenty-game winner Bartolo Colon and No. 1 pick Paul Shuey went the same way in June and July.
Article comments
1 - The Theory
as a Phillies phan, i rejoice.
peace.
2 - Eric Olsen
I'll bet you do, and after years in the wilderness it looks like you may have something next year. But it still sucks.