But how neat would it be if Thome, who helped kick off baseball's resurgence in Philadelphia when he signed as a free agent before the 2003 season, came back to close out his Hall of Fame career and take one final shot at getting a ring?
There are tides tugging events in that direction. Minneapolis Star-Tribune baseball writer LaVelle E. Neal III reported he's heard "indications [Twins management] would be willing to accommodate" him if he wanted to go to a team with a chance to win it all this year.
Thome, choosing his words carefully, made it clear that coming up short with the Indians in 1995 and 1997 remains a void in his career. "When you've gone to two World Series and you haven't won it, it eats at you and that's one thing that is still there," he told the paper.
What's missing in this equation is whether the Phillies are interested in finding a spot for him on the roster before the Aug. 31 deadline to be eligible for postseason play. But the bond between him and Charlie Manuel is well-known. The Phillies openly acknowledge the symbolic importance of his decision to leave the Cleveland Indians when he became a free agent. And this is an organization that would appreciate the grand gesture, especially for one of the best people in baseball.
Even if all the above comes together, though, there are hoops that must be jumped through. If the Twins put Thome on trade waivers, every other team in baseball would have a chance to claim him before the Phillies. And it's likely somebody would, especially an American League team looking for a designated-hitter type.
However, since he has a no-trade clause, he could decline assignment to a team he didn't want to play for and become a free agent. If he did that, he'd forfeit the remainder of his contract, about $500,000, although ya gotta believe that wouldn't be an obstacle for a guy who has made about $140 million in his career.
