CLEVELAND -- Jim Thome's decision may have gotten tougher after the Cleveland Indians improved their $60 million, five-year contract offer to the free agent first baseman.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark on Wednesday that he sent a revised proposal to Thome's agent, Pat Rooney, that includes some "variations.'' It's believed the "variations" include some vehicles that could extend Thome's offer beyond five years.

	Jim Thome First Base Free agent Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM R HR RBI OPS AVG 147 101 52 118 1.122 .304

According to several baseball people with knowledge of the negotiations, Thome and Rooney approached the Indians in the last 24 hours about adding a sixth guaranteed year to their offer so it matched up in years with the Phillies' latest offer of six years and approximately $87 million.

The Indians mulled it over for a while, then told Thome they could not guarantee another year. But Shapiro told ESPN.com, "We did take some time today to see if we could creatively bridge the gap. And this afternoon, we submitted a variation on our current proposal that doesn't represent a huge departure" (from the previous offer).

Shapiro would not comment further, other than to say he didn't expect to have any further conversations with Thome or Rooney until they make a decision. And a number of baseball people told ESPN.com Wednesday that Thome now expects to take all weekend to decide.

It is believed Cleveland's latest deal would allow Thome to reach some incentives more easily, according to The Associated Press.

Thome, also pursued by the Philadelphia Phillies, had hoped to finalize his decision by Thanksgiving. However, Cleveland's late push to re-sign its career home-run leader has delayed any decision until next week.

"I talked to Pat, and he told me we wouldn't hear from him again until Monday,'' Shapiro said.

The Phillies, too, were eager to find out if their six-year offer for about $90 million would be enough to get Thome. According to a Phillies team source who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity, that deal includes an option for a seventh season that could raise its value over $100 million.

Thome's resistance to immediately sign for more money with the Phillies could be seen as a plus for the Indians, who were hoping emotion would play into his decision.

The 32-year-old, who hit a club record 52 homers last season, has spent his entire career in Cleveland and repeatedly has said he would prefer to finish his career with the Indians.

"We're doing everything possible to try to sign Jim, and we're in the thick of it right now,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "This thing is going to have to play out. It's further than halfway home, let's put it that way. Hopefully, this will all work out to be a win-win situation for everybody.''

Thome and his wife, Andrea, are expecting their first child next month, and the couple was hoping to have the free agent process behind them by now.

Earlier this week, Shapiro said the Indians were done negotiating guaranteed money with Rooney but left themselves some flexibility in other areas.

The Indians are coming off their first losing season since 1993, and losing Thome would make it even tougher for them to get back to competing for a playoff spot.

The Phillies, meanwhile, are moving into a new ballpark in 2004 and know Thome can help fill it. Philadelphia signed third baseman David Bell, a former teammate of Thome's in Cleveland, this week and the Phillies are also trying to sign two-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Glavine.

If Philadelphia doesn't sign Thome, the Phillies may pursue Jeff Kent, Cliff Floyd or trade for a power hitter.

Information from ESPN.com's Jayson Stark and The Associated Press was used in this report.