What's this: The Phillies finally act like the big market team they should be.

Shortly after signing infielder David Bell, the fightin phils aren't done. According to this article, by ESPN and Jayson Stark, the big bopper is saying goodbye to the Indians and heading east to Philadelphia. Geez, Abreu, Thome, Burrell, have fun NL.

Here's the article:

http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/1202/1470010.html


Phillies beat out Indians in pursuit of prized Thome

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ESPN.com news services


The Phillies got their man.

Jim Thome accepted Philadelphia's six-year contract offer Monday to play first base next season. The club's offer to left-handed power hitter is worth about $87 million, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark has reported.

The deal, expected to be announced Tuesday, will not become final until after Thome passes a physical with the Phillies. An official announcement is expected Tuesday.

The Indians, the only team Thome has played for since he was a 13th-round pick in the 1989 amateur draft, were informed of his decision shortly after 2 p.m. ET.

After getting Cleveland to sweeten its five-year, $60 million offer by adding a sixth-year vesting option late last week, Thome mulled over the teams' offers during a Thanksgiving weekend at his house in Aurora, Ohio.

The Phillies, aggressively trying to improve as they prepare to move into their new ballpark in 2004, had hoped to get an answer from Thome's agent, Pat Rooney, on Sunday night, but they did not hear word until Monday morning.

Thome, 32, is the third slugger since 1996 to leave the Indians as a free agent, following Albert Belle and Manny Ramirez. He hit .304 with 52 homers, 118 RBI, 122 walks and a .445 on-base percentage last season.

Thome has hit at least 30 homers seven straight years and has driven in more than 100 runs in six of the last seven seasons. He is a career .287 hitter with 334 home runs and 927 RBI and owns the Indians' single-season and career home run records.

Thome's arrival signals the end of Travis Lee's time as Philadelphia's starting first baseman. Lee came to the Phillies in 2000 in the trade that sent Curt Schilling to Arizona.

While David Bell, signed to a $17 million, four-year contract on Nov. 24, takes over at third base from All-Star Scott Rolen (traded to St. Louis last summer), Thome replaces Rolen's power in the middle of a lineup that includes Bobby Abreu and Pat Burrell.

Thome will be the highest-paid player in Phillies history and he is the most prominent free agent to sign with the team since Pete Rose left Cincinnati after the 1978 season.

The Phillies made Thome their primary free-agent target even before the 2002 season ended. They courted him with a Nov. 7 tour of the city that included a trip to the new ballpark's construction site and concluded with a standing ovation at a Flyers' game in the First Union Center.

The Indians won six division titles and went to the World Series twice during Thome's tenure. The Phillies, meanwhile, are coming off their 14th losing season in 16 years.

Thome began his career as a third baseman, but moved to first when the Indians acquired Matt Williams before the 1997 season. Thome hit 40 homers in 1997, 49 in 2001.

Thome's departure leaves a big hole in the Indians' lineup and another one in the heart of Cleveland fans. He was one of the most popular players in club history, and was recently given the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by the commissioner's office for charity work and community service.

Philadelphia also is waiting to hear from free-agent pitcher Tom Glavine. The club has offered the left-hander a $30 million, three-year deal, with a fourth year option that would vest based on innings pitched.

Glavine also has received offers from the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves. He told ESPN's Karl Ravech on Monday he does not expect to make a decision for several days.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.