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Reports: Thome traded to Baltimore
On Friday, Jim Thome addressed the trade rumors but spent the majority of his time talking to the media about wanting to stay in Philadelphia.
On Saturday, he was reportedly headed out of Philadelphia and onto the Orioles via trade.
According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, talks between the Baltimore Orioles and Phillies became serious Saturday. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX, a deal is done and will be announced after the game.
"Out of respect for the Phillies," Thome said he didn't want to talk about possible scenarios of getting traded Friday.
But he did provide an honest answer when asked what would happen if he was approached about a trade that would send him to an American League team, where he could play full-time as a designated hitter.
"I think I would have to sit down and listen,” Thome said. “But also, it’s hard for me to answer that. It’s hard for me to answer that out of respect of the fans, the organization — they’ve treated me so well here. I would never want to disrespect that.
“But there is a side of me that does have a lot of passion to play. I like to play. Unfortunately, physically, it bothers me to say it, but physically it is what it is — it’s hard for me to play first base.”
If Thome is headed to Baltimore, he'll be going to a place where he rejuvenated his 41-year-old bat three weeks ago. In a nine-game interleague trip where Thome was able to start nine straight games as a DH, he hit .333 with four home runs and 14 RBIs.
After spending all of May on the DL with a back injury, Thome is no longer able to play first base. Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said it would be a "disservice" for Thome to have to continue to play in a part-time role after the team returned from the nine-game interleague trip.
Thome is sitting in the Phillies dugout with a bat in hand as Saturday's game in Miami draws to a close.
On Saturday, he was reportedly headed out of Philadelphia and onto the Orioles via trade.
According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, talks between the Baltimore Orioles and Phillies became serious Saturday. According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX, a deal is done and will be announced after the game.
Thome answered questions a day earlier sounding like he was torn.
He chose to sign here as a free agent, he said. He came to win here, he said.
But he also wanted to play more, and his ailing back doesn't allow him to play in the field anymore, and thus, in the National League.
"Out of respect for the Phillies," Thome said he didn't want to talk about possible scenarios of getting traded Friday.
"I think I would have to sit down and listen,” Thome said. “But also, it’s hard for me to answer that. It’s hard for me to answer that out of respect of the fans, the organization — they’ve treated me so well here. I would never want to disrespect that.
“But there is a side of me that does have a lot of passion to play. I like to play. Unfortunately, physically, it bothers me to say it, but physically it is what it is — it’s hard for me to play first base.”
If Thome is headed to Baltimore, he'll be going to a place where he rejuvenated his 41-year-old bat three weeks ago. In a nine-game interleague trip where Thome was able to start nine straight games as a DH, he hit .333 with four home runs and 14 RBIs.
After spending all of May on the DL with a back injury, Thome is no longer able to play first base. Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said it would be a "disservice" for Thome to have to continue to play in a part-time role after the team returned from the nine-game interleague trip.
Thome is sitting in the Phillies dugout with a bat in hand as Saturday's game in Miami draws to a close.
posted by Dennis Deitch at
6:19 PM
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