Twins To Sign Thome Soon?

Joe Christensen (Star Tribune) reports the Minnesota Twins are expected to sign free-agent first baseman/designated hitter Jim Thome, according to a Chicago radio station.

Christensen received an e-mail from the Chicago radio station early on Friday and made calls to check up on the tip.  Expecting to get the rumor shot down, he found out the interest in Thome is legit and the Twins have not ruled out signing Thome.

The radio station said they expected the Twins to sign Thome by “day’s end,” but Christensen said a deal by the end of the day isn’t expected.

Thome, 39, provides the Twins a bench player with some pop to his bat.  Designated hitter/outfielder Jason Kubel is expected to be the full-time designated hitter, but the addition of Thome will allow Kubel to spell the outfielders on the field and allow Thome to spell the DH role.

Thome has not played first base regularly for a few years, so although he has experience at first base, ideally, the Twins would limit playing him at first base too much during the season.

We will update this news as soon as we hear anything.

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