Jim Thome's 9th inning strikeout on Saturday night allowed his 2009 option to kick in, as it was his 564th plate appearance. Thome needed to reach 1100 plate appearances between 2007 and 2008 for the option to be a factor.

Is it a team option? Or is it a player option, where Thome can elect to have that year picked up? If it is a team option, I would think he may very well not be retained.

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Go Cubs!!!!

His option for 2009 was guaranteed with the 1100 pa's as Rodeo mentioned. It's for 13M. If he was under the 1100 PA's, it would have been a team option for 2009 with a 3M buyout.

The Phillies are responsible for about half the $ he was owed on that deal. We've been thru this before. Its something like $21 mil of that deal that the Phillies are paying/have paid.

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I don't think the Phillies are responsible for next year's salary though (I could be wrong). I'm sure the White Sox would like to have Thome back for cheaper, but there's not much they could have done here as they are in a playoff race.

I'm pretty sure the Sox got Thome plus $22mil in the trade. The '09 option is now no longer and option. The $3mil buyout is gone and if the Sox want to keep him they'll have to pay the $13mil. It looks like the Sox will have to pay to get rid of him OR if they're lucky he'll renegotiate a new deal. I like Jim Thome (especially because he's a lefty) but it might be time to move on...this team has about 4 guys that could fill the DH role.