The plan is for free-agent addition Ty Wigginton to get the bulk of the playing time in Howard's absence. Manuel said during the winter meetings in Dallas that he'd love to get Thome into 20 games at first base.
While Thome cannot promise he can play first base that many times, he did make a pledge.
"The one thing I will say is that the work I put in, nothing will be unturned," he said. "I'll put in everything I can and then we'll just have to see how my body reacts once we get there."
At his offseason home in Illinois, Thome has altered his workouts in an effort to be able to play some first base.
"I've done more stretching, pilates, yoga, and really tried to focus in on my flexibility," he said. "Obviously my core work has stayed the same for my back. I've been doing a little more running. The last couple years I've had some foot issues that have kind of cleared up."
Visions of Thome in the midst of a pilates and yoga workout might seem comical, but he takes it seriously.
"I go in with the attitude that it's helping me," he said before admitting that he does not have the prototypical yoga body. "I will say this: Through the winter I've felt much better as I've done it."
Thome has also fielded ground balls more often this winter.
"It has been indoors," he said. "When you live in Chicago, that's the challenge, but there are a couple of facilities around Chicago that have FieldTurf, and it has been pretty good. It feels good to get back out there a little bit. I'm taking them about two or three times a week. I don't really count. I would say maybe 30 to 50 each time.
