BASEBALL NEGOTIATIONS Phillies treat Jim Thome like royalty

The Tribe slugger was given a standing ovation at the Flyers game.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Jim Thome walked into Philadelphia's clubhouse and saw a Phillies jersey with his name and No. 25 hanging in one of the lockers.
The Phillies hope to convince Thome he should wear that uniform next season.
Thome, who hit a club-record 52 homers for the Cleveland Indians this season, met with the Phillies on Thursday. He was set to leave Philadelphia today, but Phillies general manager Ed Wade said he will offer Thome a contract next Tuesday -- the first day teams are allowed to discuss money with free agents from other clubs.
Sought-after
Thome is the most coveted hitter in this winter's free agent market, and it's believed the Phillies will offer him about $15 million per season over four or five years.
"It's going to be a long process," Thome said. "We're going to look at a lot of different angles. Everybody knows my ties in Cleveland, but I wouldn't be here if I wasn't interested."
Thome watched a video presentation of the Phillies' new stadium that's set to open in 2004, toured the stadium site, checked out the turf at Veterans Stadium, met privately with Phillies manger Larry Bowa and, of course, ate a cheesesteak for lunch.
Thome, who was joined by his wife, Andrea, and agent, Pat Rooney, was expected to visit neighborhoods where he could potentially live later in the afternoon, and attended the Flyers' game against the New Jersey Devils at night.
When he went back outside after watching the video, a group of about 50 electricians greeted Thome with cheers and a sign saying they want him to come to the Phillies.
"I heard a lot of great things about Philadelphia," he said. "You saw what the people did out there and that was heartwarming. It's going to be a tough decision."
That was before he got a standing ovation from Flyers fans when he was introduced midway through the second period of their game.
Started in Cleveland
But Thome clearly remains loyal to the Indians, where he has spent his entire career since he was a 13th-round pick in the 1989 draft.
The Indians, who have won six division titles and been to the World Series twice during Thome's tenure, met with him and his agent last Thursday. Cleveland is prepared to make Thome the highest-paid player in club history, but reportedly offered him $11 million per season, lower than what the Phillies might give him.
"He's been in Cleveland his whole career and if he does leave, he has to make the right decision," Rooney said.
The Phillies, coming off their 14th losing season in 16 years, feel they're close to making a run at a pennant. They finished just two games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East in 2001, and hope adding Thome, a No. 1 starter and possibly a couple other free agents would put them in position to win it all.
Wade and other team officials met with left-hander Tom Glavine in Atlanta on Wednesday, and also plan to make an offer to the two-time NL Cy Young award winner next Tuesday.