Minnesota Twins Jim Thome Signing By Dane Moore

The Minnesota Twins tuesday have agreed to a preliminary, one-year, incentive-laden deal with Jim Thome pending a physical. The deal is worth $1.5 million and includes up to $750,000 in incentives.

So is this another Joe Crede, Tony Batista or Rondell White signing by the Twins? No. I am aware Thome is out of his prime at 39 years old and there is no way he is an everyday player. However, unlike the Crede, Batista and White signings, Thome will not be depended upon. He will serve in the role of a spot Designated Hitter and late inning pinch hitter. So why are we paying a 39 year-old bench player and not pursuing another starting pitcher?

1. Thome will play. Any day Ron Gardenhire permits to Delmon Young, Denard Span, Michael Cuddyer, Justin Morneau or Jason Kubel will result in a corresponding Thome addition to the starting lineup. Span and Morneau will be penciled in nearly everyday, but Young didn't have an at bat in 54 games last year, Kubel was benched for 16 games and Cuddyer was rested for nine. Even though none of the three suffered major injuries in 2009. Carlos Gomez also had 315 at bats in 2009. Someone needs to fill those at bats. There were no other major promotions or free agent acquisitions for the Twins bench Thome can be assumed to receive a decent workload of at bats as a starter. It is very possible without injury Young, Cuddyer and Kubel will sit in favor of Thome somewhere around 40 games due to rest and favorable match ups.

2. Thome will pinch hit. Over 19 years and 564 home runs Thome has amassed a reputation as a pure power-hitter, able to go off any at bat. It is no secret that successful pinch hitting is an art and takes a specific mindset. Thome may have only 80 career pinch hit at bats but he spent the end of 2009 regular season and the Dodgers playoff run every game knowing he would only be an option as a pinch hitter. Not to mention Gardenhire's propensity to pinch hit late in games. With a plethora of utility players starting for and on the bench for the Twins, Thome will be able to pinch hit in nearly any big situation because Gardenhire will easily be able to make necessary adjustments in the field. Thome may be the end of the late-inning suicide squeezes by Nick Punto.

3. Thome was productive in 2009. In 107 games for the White Sox Thome had 345 at bats, hitting .249, with 23 home runs, 74 RBI's and had a .372 OBP (on base percentage). Prior to the trade Delmon Young was anticipated to bat in the six hole. Young played in 108 games with 395 at bats, similar to Thome. However, in 2009 Young had an OBP 64 points lower, hitting 11 less home runs and 14 less RBI's. Yes, Thome's 2010 production will need to be pro-rated for a lessened workload due to age and available playing time, but again Gomez and his 315 at bats are gone. It is not a preposterous statement to say Thome will again reach base 37% to 40% of the time, hit 20 plus home runs and have 70 plus RBI's. Outside of his one injury plagued 2005 campaign he has reached those marks for the past 15 years.

4. A pitcher was not an option. Yes the Twins could use another arm in the starting rotation. But with the team business goal of keeping team salary for 2010 in the ballpark of 90 million dollars, a starter was not financially possible. Jon Garland who has become a bit of a journeyman, none the less a viable middle of the rotation guy, today signed with the San Diego Padres for 4.7 million dollars. That 4.7 is over three million more than Thome's base salary. The only options on free agent starting pitching in a similar price range to what they signed Thome for would have been; Scott Olsen of the Washington Nationals or Rich Hill of the St. Louis Cardinals. In 2009 Olsen posted and ERA of 6.02 and Hill's ERA was upwards of eight earned runs per nine innings at a 7.80 ERA. Not to mention both Olsen and Hill will be liabilities in 2010 coming back from injuries to their throwing shoulders. So even if Thome does not wind up be extraordinarily effective and the pitching staff struggles, the excuse of "We should have used that Thome money on a starting pitcher." is not a viable one.


When in past years I have hated the Twins Sidney Ponson-esque free agent "experienced" or "veteran" signings, I think this one might just work out. Because again, whatever we get from Thome is just a bonus. He will not be in the Twins opening day lineup because our lineup prior to the acquisition is set and ready to compete for the division, again in 2010. Anything we get from Thome is just gravy.