Thome to the Phillies

[nyy26wc]

1) The Phillies agreed to a 6 year, about $87.5 million contract with free agent 1B Jim Thome. The official announcement will come today, after Thome takes a physical.

After 37 RCAA/.929 OPS and 66 RCAA/1.040 OPS seasons, Thome hit .677 SLG, .445 OBA, 1.122 OPS, 88 RCAA in 147 games. He has a .982 career OPS, compared to his league average of .773, and 475 RCAA in 1377 games.

Thome leaves the Indians as their all time HR leader--

1    Jim Thome                   334   
2    Albert Belle                242   
3    Manny Ramirez               236   
4    Earl Averill                226   
5    Hal Trosky                  216   
6    Larry Doby                  215   
7    Andre Thornton              214   
8    Al Rosen                    192   
9    Rocky Colavito              190   
10   Ken Keltner                 163   

Thome's 2002 OPS vs. the league average ranked 2nd in Indians history--

OPS                           YEAR     DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1    Albert Belle             1994     .373    1.152     .779   
2    Jim Thome                2002     .366    1.122     .757   
3    Manny Ramirez            2000     .360    1.154     .794   
4    Joe Jackson              1911     .341    1.058     .717   
5    Joe Jackson              1912     .337    1.036     .700   
6    Joe Jackson              1913     .328    1.011     .684   
7    Nap Lajoie               1904     .326     .959     .633   
8    Nap Lajoie               1910     .320     .960     .639   
9    Albert Belle             1995     .320    1.091     .771   
10   Tris Speaker             1923     .318    1.079     .761   

2) The Cubs have agreed to a deal with free agent P Mike Remlinger, for 3 years, believed to be between $10.5 and $11 million. The deal is contingent on him passing a physical, which could happen today.

After 3.47 ERA/9 RSAA and 2.76 ERA/14 RSAA seasons, Remlinger had a 1.99 ERA/16 RSAA in 73 games. He has a 3.80 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.28, and 38 RSAA in 439 games.

Remlinger's been a good reliever in each of the past 4 years. He ranks 5th in the majors in most RSAA by a pitcher who's exclusively been a reliever (or made at least under 10 starts during that time)--

RSAA                           RSAA      GS     
1    Keith Foulke                 88        0   
2    Mariano Rivera               65        0   
3    Steve Karsay                 60        3   
4    Danny Graves                 59        4   
5    Mike Remlinger               57        0   
6    Armando Benitez              52        0   
7    Billy Wagner                 48        0   
8    Al Levine                    47        7   
9    Billy Koch                   46        0   
10   Byung-Hyun Kim               43        1   

But, his signing comes with a downside. He will 37 in March, so the contract covers ages 37-39.

3) The Redsox hired Euclides Rojas as bullpen coach.

4) On Sunday, Dave McNally died of cancer at the age of 60.

McNally pitched for the Orioles from 1962-74, before finishing his career with the 1975 Expos. He was a part of their famed pennant winning rotation in the late 1960s/early 1970s and finished in the AL top 10 in ERA and RSAA 3 times apiece. McNally's best year was 1968, when he had a 1.95 ERA/32 RSAA. McNally had a 3.24 career ERA, compared to his league average of 3.49, and 64 RSAA in 424 games.

McNally was also a key historical figure who, along with Andy Messersmith, was the named player in the grievance that led to free agency.

5) According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Rangers are interested in free agent P Rick Helling, who previously 8 years with the team, before going to the Diamondbacks last year.

6) According to Robin Ventura's agent, he may be ready to re-sign with the Yankees within the next couple of days.

7) According to the Newark Star Ledger, the Yankees inability to find a market for Sterling Hitchcock, Rondell White and Raul Mondesi have increased the chances of Andy Pettitte being trade. The paper also reports that they've had internal discussions on getting a relatively inexpensive pitcher, such as Ryan Dempster or Matt Clement, and they don't want to pay Mike Stanton Remlinger-type figures, so they've discussed trades for Greg Swindell and Curtis Leskanic.

8) Tom Glavine has lowered his asking price, from 4 years, $45 million down to $41 million. Glavine sent those offers to the Phillies and Mets yesterday, but interestingly didn't send such an offer to the Braves. That could be due to the fact that the other two responded to the $45 million offer, but the Braves still haven't.

9) According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Phillies are trying to trade 1B Travis Lee and 2B Marlon Anderson and, if they fail, they'll probably release them.

10) The Orioles signed P Bill Pulsipher to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.

Pulsipher is exhibit 58464 in the Museum of Can't Miss Pitching Prospects Who You Don't Miss. He has a 5.13 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.34, and -31 RSAA in 101 games with 4 teams, from 1995 and 19982-2001.

11) According to the Boston Herald, the Redsox are believed to have withdrawn their 3 year, $22-24 million offer to free agent Cliff Floyd. Meanwhile, according to GM Theo Epstein, "We have a definite interest in having Cliff be a part of the 2003 Red Sox and beyond. Cliff definitely fits for us at a certain cost. If we are able to fit Cliff in those parameters, we will."

12) The Royals signed INFs Julius Matos and Mendy Lopez and P Jimmy Osting to minor league contracts and invited them to spring training.

Matos hit .286 SLG, .279 OPS, .566 OPS, -12 RCAA in his first 76 games, with the 2002 Padres.

Lopez was 0 for 3, with 3 SO, in 3 games with the Pirates and has a .641 OPS/-17 RCAA in 120 career games, spread out since 1998. Most of his major league experience was a .612 OPS/-16 RCAA in 74 games with the 1998 Royals.

Osting, who also pitched for 3 games with the 2001 Padres, had a 7.50 ERA/-5 RSAA in 3 starts with the Brewers.

13) According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the Cubs and Giants have had trade talks, while one of their sources say Kirk Rueter was discussed, the other disputes it. The paper also reports the Cubs are interested in free agent P Shawn Estes.

14) According to the Chicago Sun Times, the Cubs are interested in Expos P Javier Vazquez and 2B Jose Vidro, while they'd probably have to give up at least 2 of Kyle Farnsworth, Juan Cruz and Carlos Zambrano. Meanwhile, if Vidro was acquired, it could be to move him to 3B, instead of having him block Bobby Hill from taking over the starting job.

15) According to WFAN's Mike Francesa, if the Expos have to trade Bartolo Colon, they are very interested in a package from the Yankees. The Expos want Juan Rivera and Nick Johnson and, for some reason, also Raul Mondesi. But, in addition to Colon, the Yankees would have to take Fernando Tatis and work out some creative deal to pick up at least some of Mondesi's contract.