CLEVELAND INDIANS Thome takes money and runs

The free-agent slugger couldn't pass up the six-year, $87 million deal from the Phillies.
COMBINED DISPATCHES
PHILADELPHIA -- Jim Thome's loyalty to the Cleveland Indians did not run as deep as the pockets of the Philadelphia Phillies, who lured baseball's most coveted free-agent slugger from the only organization he has played for with a six-year, $87.5 million deal that will become official pending his passing a physical today.
Neither Phillies' general manager Ed Wade nor Indians' general manager Mark Shapiro would confirm the agreement Monday, but sources from both teams said Thome traveled to Philadelphia on Monday night.
Thome, the 32-year-old first baseman who hit a club-record 52 home runs for the Indians last season, also informed teammates and friends of his plans. A news conference to announce his signing the biggest contract in Phillie history is expected Tuesday or Wednesday.
"I talked to Jimmy [Monday], and he's pretty pumped. It's a good challenge for him," Cleveland outfielder Ellis Burks said. "He went back and forth between Cleveland and Philadelphia. He finally picked Philadelphia."
Tribe makes effort
The Indians made every effort to re-sign one of the most popular players in franchise history, bumping their original four-year, $45 million offer to five years at $60 million, and then adding a sixth-year vesting option that would have increased the package to about $75 million.
But the Phillies' aggressive attempts to improve as they prepare to move into a new stadium in 2004 and a deal that guarantees an average of about $14.5 million a year were enough to attract Thome, whose signing could trigger a baseball renaissance in Philadelphia and the return of the dark ages in Cleveland.
Charlie Manuel, fired as Indians manager in mid-July, probably is Thome's closest confidant.
"I talked to Jimmy on Saturday and again [Monday] morning," Manuel said from his home in Winter Haven, Fla. "He still hadn't made his mind up when I talked to him, so without a doubt it was a hard decision for him."
Manuel insisted that his role was as a sounding board, and that if Thome did ask his opinion, Manuel's advice was: "It's your decision."
Money not only issue
Obviously, money was an issue, but according to Manuel, it was far from the only consideration.
The Indians' offer included a $60 million guaranteed payout over five years. Initially, the Tribe offered a sixth season, an option to be exercised at the club's discretion.
But as negotiations progressed, it is believed the Tribe made the sixth year into a "vested option." That is, if Thome came to the plate a specified number of times, the 2008 season would automatically become guaranteed.
By contrast, the Phillies proposed a six-year guaranteed contract worth $87 million plus an option season that could make the deal worth $100 million or more.
"I think that sixth [guaranteed] year was big," Manuel said. "I believe Jimmy wanted some guaranteed money in that sixth year [from Cleveland], a buyout or whatever."
On the other hand, Manuel said other considerations weighed heavily on Thome's mind.
"I really think that Jimmy would have taken less money," Manuel said. "I don't know exactly how this worked into the deal, but the money came earlier in the contract with Philadelphia.
Winning now important
"I also know for a fact that Philadelphia having a chance to win was important to Jimmy. He asked me if Cleveland could win, and I told him not for a couple of years. Cleveland being down for two or three years played a part."
Thome has a .287 batting average, 334 homers and 927 RBIs in a 12-year major league career.
"Coming up in the Indians system, Jimmy was a guy everyone looked up to," Cleveland second baseman John McDonald said. "I always wanted to play next to him, and I'm just sorry I won't ever get a chance to do that again. I'm happy for Jimmy and his family, but I'm just really sorry for the Indians family."
Thome hit .304 with 118 RBIs, 122 walks and a .445 on-base percentage last season. He has hit at least 30 homers seven straight years and has driven in more than 100 runs in six of the last seven seasons.