FREE AGENCY Thome says emphasis was on sixth year

Instead of a guaranteed year, the Indians offered option years for a sixth and seventh season.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Jim Thome said Philadelphia's offer of a sixth contract year was critical in his decision to leave the Cleveland Indians.
"The sixth year was the deciding factor," Thome said.
"We made it clear all along that the contract would have to extend through the length of my career. I didn't want my daughter coming up to me five years from now and saying, 'Daddy, why are we leaving Cleveland?' after playing 15 or 16 years here."
Thome, the most coveted hitter in the free-agent market, agreed to an $85 million, six-year contract with the Phillies on Tuesday. The Indians had offered a five-year, $63 million deal.
Thome's wife, Andrea, cried Thursday as she defended her husband because he spurned the Indians after saying he wanted to finish his career in Cleveland.
Flattered, but...
"It's flattering that people are this passionate about Jim leaving," said Andrea, who is expecting the couple's first child by the end of the month.
"Jim has never lied to anybody. He's an up-front guy. It's hard for me to hear it as his wife, and with all the hormones I've got working, the things people are saying are just hurtful."
Thome said he was ready to sign with the Indians if he got a sixth year on a contract offer.
"I called [Cleveland general manager] Mark Shapiro the day before Thanksgiving," Thome said. "I told him, 'If you can give me the sixth year, this is a done deal.' "
Instead of a guaranteed year, the Indians offered option years for a sixth and seventh season worth $12 million each.
"I knew to stay in Cleveland I was going to have to take less money," Thome said. "The money that Philly was throwing around was nice, but if the money was the ultimate decision, I would not have taken this down to the wire.
"The sixth year, to me, was huge. So was the chance to win."
Thome sought advice from family members before making his decision and called former Indians general manager John Hart, who is now running the Texas Rangers.
"I asked John for his point of view on the Phillies," said Thome. "The reply John gave me is that they're the 1994 Indians."
The core of the 1994 Indians, including Thome, won six division titles and went to the World Series twice between 1995 and 2001.
Thome, who hit a club-record 52 homers for the Indians last season, has a .287 batting average, 334 homers and 927 RBIs in a 12-year major league career, all with Cleveland.