CLEVELAND Indians sweeten pot to try to keep Thome

The team's home-run leader won't make a decision until next week.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Jim Thome's decision may have gotten tougher after the Cleveland Indians improved their $60 million, five-year contract offer to the free agent first baseman.
The Indians sent a revised proposal to Thome's agent, Pat Rooney, on Wednesday that includes some "variations" on a sixth option year from their previous package, a team source said on the condition of anonymity.
The source said the Indians, who made what they said was their "final" offer on Monday, spent the past 24 hours trying to come up with a "more competitive offer."
It is believed Cleveland's latest deal would allow Thome to reach some incentives more easily.
Thome, also pursued by the Philadelphia Phillies, had hoped to finalize his decision by Thanksgiving. However, Cleveland's late push to re-sign its career home-run leader has delayed any decision until next week.
"I talked to Pat, and he told me we wouldn't hear from him again until Monday," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said.
Philadelphia
The Phillies, too, were eager to find out if their six-year offer for about $90 million would be enough to get Thome.
According to a Phillies team source who spoke on the condition of anonymity, that deal includes an option for a seventh season that could raise its value over $100 million.
Phillies GM Ed Wade talked to Rooney and was told Thome will take the weekend to think about his decision.
"We don't weigh it one way or another," Wade said of the delay. "We know this decision has a lot of importance to Jim and his family. We have to be patient."
Rooney did not return a telephone message seeking comment.
Thome's resistance to immediately sign for more money with the Phillies could be seen as a plus for the Indians, who were hoping emotion would play into his decision.
Home-run leader
The 32-year-old, who hit a club record 52 homers last season, has spent his entire career in Cleveland and repeatedly has said he would prefer to finish his career with the Indians.
"We're doing everything possible to try to sign Jim, and we're in the thick of it right now," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "This thing is going to have to play out. It's further than halfway home, let's put it that way. Hopefully, this will all work out to be a win-win situation for everybody."
Thome and his wife, Andrea, are expecting their first child next month, and the couple was hoping to have the free agent process behind them by now.
Earlier this week, Shapiro said the Indians were done negotiating guaranteed money with Rooney but left themselves some flexibility in other areas.
The Indians are coming off their first losing season since 1993, and losing Thome would make it even tougher for them to get back to competing for a playoff spot.
The Phillies, meanwhile, are moving into a new ballpark in 2004 and know Thome can help fill it. Philadelphia signed third baseman David Bell, a former teammate of Thome's in Cleveland, this week and the Phillies are also trying to sign two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine.
If Philadelphia doesn't sign Thome, the Phillies may pursue Jeff Kent, Cliff Floyd or trade for a power hitter.