[JetsOhFive]

Phils to get Rowand for Thome
Tentative deal has Phillies sending cash to White Sox
By Ken Mandel / MLB.com

PHILADELPHIA -- Jim Thome is heading to Illinois for Thanksgiving, and staying there.
Phillies general manager Pat Gillick confirmed Wednesday that the Phillies have agreed to a deal that sends Thome to the White Sox for center fielder Aaron Rowand and two top prospects, returning the prolific home run hitter to his home state. Philadelphia acquired left-handed pitcher Giovanni Gonzalez and another pitcher, believed to be southpaw Daniel Haigwood.

The White Sox will pay slightly more than half the remaining $46 million on Thome's contract. Thome has waived his no-trade clause to join the White Sox, though the deal is contingent on Thome passing a physical. That should be Friday in Chicago.

"We have a tentative situation with the White Sox only on both players passing physicals," said Gillick, still hard at work late Wednesday afternoon. "We were talking to a lot of different clubs about a lot of different things. This was one that came about in the past couple of days."

Thome grew up in Peoria, Ill. His family still lives in the area, and he often can be found at his hunting lodge outside town during the offseason. He left his beloved Cleveland after 12 seasons, when he signed a six-year, $85 million contract with the Phillies in Dec. 3, 2002.

Though his resume includes 430 home runs, injuries led to Thome's worst professional season in 2005. He batted .207 with seven homers in 59 games, his fewest since the 1994 season.

He spent two weeks on the disabled list in May, then returned there for good on July 1, eventually having season-ending surgery on his right elbow. During that time, Ryan Howard shed his prospect label on his way to winning the National League Rookie of the Year.

With Howard staying put, the likely scenario was to trade Thome, and Gillick wasted little time in finding a match with the defending world champions. Even if free agent Paul Konerko returns, Thome would be used as a designated hitter.

Rowand's defense has to be viewed as a major improvement -- he committed just three errors -- and his right-handed bat helps offset a largely left-handed lineup. The 28-year-old batted .270 with 13 homers and 69 RBIs in 157 games, and stole 16 bases. He established himself as a starter in 2004, when he hit .310 with 24 homers.

"We've had interest in a number of players, and Rowand has always been a guy who (director of Major League scouting Gordon Lakey) thought would be a good Phillie," Gillick said. "Rowand gives us a right-handed hitter. In this park, he'll hit 15 to 20 home runs. We were overloaded left-handed and gives us a good defensive center fielder."

Rowand earned $2 million in 2005, and will receive $3.25 million next year, with a club option in 2007 for $5 million. He has a player option of $3.25 million for 2007.

It creates much needed flexibility for a payroll that is expected to be around $95 million in 2006. Thome was to earn $15 million next season, which included the final $2.5 million of a $10 million signing bonus. He'll make $14 million in 2007 and 2008, and $13 million if his 2009 option vests. If not, he'd make $3 million that season.

With the White Sox paying more than half of what's left -- the Phillies had nearly $78 million committed to 11 players -- Gillick has some extra freedom.

"We have more flexibility if this thing is brought through, but we would probably need more," he said. "We'll explore everything, but if we think something will improve our club, we'll move on it."

The Phillies are still trying to re-sign closer Billy Wagner, and could be pursuing a free-agent starter. It has been speculated that they couldn't afford Wagner without moving some salary. It enhances their ability to improve in those areas, and still afford Wagner.

The Mets are Philadelphia's chief competition for Wagner, and have offered a three-year, $30.25 million contract with a $10 million option for a fourth season. Gillick said he spoke to Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, on Wednesday, and made an "adjustment" to their previous offer.

The previous offer was believed to have been for three years and $29 million. Gillick wouldn't elaborate on what adjustment had been made, but said he planned to talk to Wagner next week.

[JetsOhFive]

A very smart move that Ed Wade wouldn't have the balls to do. Trading a valuable yet unneeded player away so you can fill a void. I like this new GM. Pitching still needed though.

[smallguy]

IMO, I think the Phillies made a great move. Thome has a big contract, old and injury prone. Rowand is a good young CF who ha good potenial.

[Maynard13]

woowww...Phillies got a deal here

Thome is like 35...Rowand is like 28!!

[Smedsthejet]

Bad move for the White Sox as they lost a good player with a years ahead and got a player who is injury prone and nearly past it.
Hopefully Thome plays bad against Cleveland so the Tribe can take the AL Central crown