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Monday, December 2
 
Thome expected to make decision today

ESPN.com news services

CLEVELAND -- Jim Thome spent part of his holiday weekend hunting -- and being hunted.

Thome, baseball's most coveted free agent slugger, is expected to end a monthlong, two-team courtship today by announcing whether he will stay with the Cleveland Indians or sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.

"We've done our negotiating. We've done our selling," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said Sunday night. "It's in Jim's hands. We're anxiously awaiting his decision."

Shapiro said he spoke with Pat Rooney, Thome's agent, on Sunday and the two plan to talk again today.

Last week, the first baseman called Shapiro, Indians manager Eric Wedge and other front office members to tell them his preference was to remain with Cleveland.

At the time, Thome was mulling a six-year offer from the Phillies worth about $90 million and he asked if the Indians could improve their $60 million, five-year offer by guaranteeing a sixth year.

The Indians wouldn't go that far, but according to a team source speaking on the condition of anonymity, they restructured their offer by making the sixth year a vesting option -- one Thome could reach more easily based on performance.

Shapiro told ESPN.com on Wednesday, "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)."

Thome has been at his home in Aurora, Ohio, since early last week and the avid outdoorsman went hunting with some friends and family members this weekend.

The Indians are hoping it's enough to keep their career home run leader, and see Thome's reluctance to immediately leave for more money with the Phillies as a positive sign he wants to stay.

"We recognize it's a difficult decision for him because of his ties to Cleveland and because of how much money Philadelphia is offering," Shapiro said.

After Thome received the Phillies' last package, the budget-conscious Indians extended themselves far beyond what Shapiro ever thought they would -- or could -- offer.

Even if Cleveland doesn't re-sign Thome, Shapiro said he's proud of the commitment owner Larry Dolan displayed in trying to keep one of his team's cornerstone players.

"I feel good about what the Dolans have done," Shapiro said. "We made our original offer and the Dolan family stepped up by recognizing and showing they wanted to keep a player who is a treasure here.

"We did everything we possibly could from an organizational standpoint."

An official announcement on Thome's signing might not come until later in the week. He'll have to undergo a physical for insurance purposes with whichever team signs him, and details of his contract will have to be finalized.

The Phillies also are awaiting an answer from pitcher Tom Glavine. The club has offered Glavine a $30 million, three-year deal, with a fourth year option that would vest based on innings pitched by the left-hander.

Glavine also has received offers from the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.




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