Phillies will make pitch to Jim Thome

Philadelphia can talk money with Jim Thome, Tom Glavine and David Bell today.
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Darren Baker won't be back in the dugout next season, and Jim Thome could be leaving Cleveland.
Baseball's general managers' meetings began Monday with discussion of a new age requirement for bat boys and an aggressive plan by the Philadelphia Phillies to improve their team.
Phillies GM Ed Wade planned to offer contracts to Thome, Tom Glavine and David Bell today -- the first day teams can negotiate money with free agents.
"We'll be aggressive with our offers and see if we can get it done sooner rather than later," Wade said Monday. "We're hopeful we can get this thing done. We'll see."
The Phillies, who finished with a losing record for the 14th time in 16 seasons, are expected to offer Thome about $15 million a year for four or five years.
The Indians are believed to have offered Thome a deal worth about $45 million over four years.
Indians restriction
"We left some room for creativity and flexibility," Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro said. "We can make some movement, but not with our guaranteed money."
Also today, the general managers will discuss an age requirement for bat boys in response to a near-accident involving Dusty Baker's 3-year-old during the World Series.
"We will issue a directive under the authority of the commissioner that enacts a minimum age," said Sandy Alderson, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office.
Alderson said the age will be determined after talking with GMs about what requirements individual teams have, looking at state laws and insurance issues.
But he said it would be at least "double digits," meaning Darren Baker won't be able to return as a bat boy until the 2009 season at the earliest.
"We don't want to just come up with an arbitrary number," Alderson said. "I would like to do it in a way that is rational. I'm sure when the limit is imposed, some people will think that it's arbitrary. But we're going to have some limit."
Cubs
On Monday, Baker interviewed with Cubs GM Jim Hendry and president Andy MacPhail for 31/2 hours about the team's manager job.
Baker, who led San Francisco to the NL pennant, became available when the Giants decided last week not to offer him a contract for 2003. Baker is the front-runner to replace Bruce Kimm, who was fired after the season.
Monday was the final day for players to file for free agency. Giants closer Robb Nen exercised his $8.6 million option with the team and Boston agreed to a $13.02 million, three-year contract with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield.
Arizona declined a $2.75 million option on right-hander Mike Fetters and Los Angeles turned down a $1.2 million option on catcher Chad Kreuter. Kreuter gets a $300,000 buyout and Fetters gets $250,000.