When asked to Compare Rolen's contract to Thome's, Thome's agent replied that Rolen was not in Thome's league. Thome's agents answer failed the question, failed it big time.

Rolen is 4-5 years younger than Thome and more athletic, and more versatile in the field.

Rolen will get better each year for the next 4-6 years, Thome is in the prime of his career for another 2-3 years max. Rolen, with much more upside, signed a 7 year 80 million dollar deal, or approximately 11 million a year.

A deal that was 60 million dollars LESS than what the phillies offered Rolen. (10 years, 140 million)

What do I think Thome is "worth"? I think Thome is "worth" either 15 million dollars a year, ONE YEAR GUARANTEED AT A TIME, or 11-12 million a year, 4 years guaranteed.

I believe Thome's agent wants to get Jim around 15-17 million a year for 5 to 7 years. It's just not right, too much money for one ballplayer who one day may play more DH than first base.

It appears that for most teams first base is an easier position to fill than third base. And therein lies the real problem. Ben Broussard, Luis Garcia, Earl Snyder, could all handle first, but none of them can handle third. Just as Richie Sexson and Sean Casey were traded because Thome was our frist basemant, so will future prospects not be given a chance. I have no problem with that, since Thome may one day be in the Hall of Fame.

What I do have a problem with is Thome's agent wanting an amount of money that is so large that if Thome doesn't fulfill his end of the bargain, our team is crippled for the next four or five years.

Meanwhile, Scott Rolen signed for an amount of money that allows his team to acquire one other quality everyday starting player with the money they saved on Rolen's contract.

Of the top 15 salaries in all of Major League Baseball, only one ballplayer made it to either League Championship Series this year.
I hope Jim Thome wants to play for a World Series team, and that that team will be Cleveland. If this happens, it will be because Thome was looking for a square deal, rather than "fair-market" value.

<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ October 14, 2002 01:52 PM: Message edited by: Alex ]</font>