Thomecoming

The Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians agreed to a trade last night, sending All-Star DH Jim Thome back to the Indians. Thome, who hit his 600th career Home Run this season, has played 20 years in the league, 11 years in Cleveland. Jim owns the Indians franchise career Home Runs record with 334 bombs in Cleveland. Thome was a 3-time All-Star in Cleveland. However, the slugger has not been named to the team since 2006. The decline of Jim Thome has been noticeable, his batting average has dropped 40 points from hitting .283 a year ago, while hitting 25 jacks. The Indians acquire Thome hoping for any kind of resurgence in the former star.

The Indians are currently sitting 6.5 games out of the AL Central lead. The Indians also have lost 7 of their last 10 games, and are currently one game below .500. Cleveland also took a big blow the other day, losing their DH Travis Hafner possibly for the remainder of the season. Hafner was a big part of the Indians success, with an OBP of .364 and a Batting Average of .281. It is unlikely that Jim Thome will be able to match that production, but that is exactly what he is expected to do. Thome is not exactly known as a contact hitter, with a career average of .277. Thome is known for is power, and that is exactly what the Indians need.

In every season where Jim Thome has played at least 100 games, he has hit at least 20 Home Runs. Thome hit a career high 47 homers in 2003 with the Phillies. Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana are the only players on the Indians roster to hit over 15 Home Runs this season. Thome will add power to a lineup that is desperate for a true slugger. However, Thome isn't that guy anymore, only hitting 12 homers this season. Thome is also not a player that can play every day, his back is a major issue, and at 40 years old he will not be nearly as effective as he used to be.

Jim Thome will return to the place where he began his MLB career. What an incredible story it would be if Thome could return to form and lead his team to the playoffs. This season could very well be Thome's last, and what a season it would be, for him to go out with a bang.