BASEBALL Cubs, Thome will talk, but Hee will have to do

CLEVELAND (AP) -- There may be a new team for Cleveland Indians fans to worry about -- the Chicago Cubs.
Free agent first baseman Jim Thome and his agent, Pat Rooney, are expected to meet with Cubs officials this week at Wrigley Field, although the visit could be more of a courtesy call than a bargaining session.
Thome, who is from Peoria, Ill., grew up rooting for the Cubs and requested the meeting.
It's unlikely the Cubs would make a serious run at Thome, the most coveted slugger in this year's free agent class. Chicago has been grooming minor leaguer Hee Seop Choi for its first base job.
But the Cubs' interest could trigger other teams to make offers to Thome.
Meanwhile, Cleveland's career home run leader still has two contract proposals to consider.
The Indians presented him with a four-year deal worth about $45 million on Oct. 31. It was dwarfed a few days later by a reported five-year, $75 million offer from the Philadelphia Phillies, who have made signing Thome their No. 1 offseason priority.
Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro is expected to meet with Rooney again this week when the Indians will likely up their offer by adding two vested option years to their initial proposal.
Last week, Shapiro said Rooney had promised the Indians would get a "last shot" to sign Thome.
Shapiro and Rooney did not return phone messages seeking comment on Tuesday.