Indians Meet With Thome, Philly Next

NEW YORK (AP) _ Cleveland wants Jim Thome, and so does Philadelphia. <br><br>The top hitter on the free-agent market met Thursday in Cleveland with the Indians, the only major league team he's played

Friday, November 1st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ Cleveland wants Jim Thome, and so does Philadelphia.

The top hitter on the free-agent market met Thursday in Cleveland with the Indians, the only major league team he's played for.

Thome hit a club-record 52 homers with 118 RBIs last season despite a lack of protection in Cleveland's lineup. He batted .304, scored 101 runs and led the AL in walks (122) and slugging percentage (.677).

``They were very cordial,'' said Pat Rooney, Thome's agent. ``They presented us with different things ancillary to the contract. It went well, and we're going to talk to them at some point in the free agency process.''

Philadelphia, preparing to move into a new ballpark in 2004, also is interested in Thome, and the Phillies invited him to tour the construction site next week.

Frank Thomas was among 11 players who filed for free agency Thursday, raising the total to 130 among the approximately 180 who are eligible. Under an unusual provision in his Chicago contract, Thomas has until Dec. 7 to sign with another club or keep his White Sox deal, which calls for annual salaries in the next four seasons of $250,000 plus $10,125,000 deferred over 10 years without interest.

Originally, Thomas was to get annual salaries of $9,927,000, including $3,827,000 deferred with interest, but the White Sox exercised a clause that allowed the team to change the salary because he didn't make the All-Star team and isn't going to finish among the top 10 in MVP voting or win a Silver Slugger this season.

Fred McGriff's $8.5 million option was declined by the Chicago Cubs, who will give him a $500,000 buyout. McGriff, who hit .273 this season with 30 homers and 103 RBIs, becomes eligible for free agency.

Utilityman Denny Hocking, the Minnesota Twins' longest-tenured position player, agreed to a $1.1 million contract.

Three days earlier, general manager Terry Ryan declined a $1.5 million option on Hocking, who hit .253 and was a key contributor in the Twins' series-clinching win over Oakland in the first round of the playoffs. He hurt his finger in the celebration, though, and missed the AL championship series against Anaheim.

``I know they're trying to keep payroll down,'' Hocking said, ``but that shows what kind of person Terry Ryan is and what kind of an organization this is.''

First baseman Scott Hatteberg's $1.75 million option was exercised Thursday by the Oakland Athletics, who declined $1.2 million options on infielder Olmedo Saenz and reliever Jeff Tam. Saenz gets a $50,000 buyout.

Reliever Tim Worrell's $2 million option was exercised Thursday by the San Francisco Giants, who declined a $3.5 million option on right fielder Reggie Sanders. Sanders, who had a mutual option, gets a $500,000 buyout.

In addition, third baseman David Bell declined his $3.5 million option. Because Bell turned down the mutual option, he doesn't get a buyout.

St. Louis declined a $6 million option on Andy Benes and the 35-year-old right-hander gets a $1.5 million buyout, all deferred without interest. Benes nearly retired in April, when he had a 10.80 ERA after three starts. He returned from a knee injury in July, and his 1.86 ERA after the All-Star break led the majors. He finished 5-4 with a 2.78 ERA.

Boston declined a $7.5 million option on right-hander Dustin Hermanson, who missed most of the season. The pitcher gets a $200,000 buyout.

``Due to injuries, Dustin had a difficult and disappointing season,'' Red Sox interim general manager Mike Port said. ``However, no one worked harder to try to return from his injuries than Dustin did.''

Hermanson was 1-1 with a 7.77 ERA in 12 games, pitching 22 innings.

He strained a groin during his first start of the season on April 3, returned to pitch one inning of relief July 20 against New York, then went back on the disabled list the next day with a staph infection in his left elbow. Hermanson didn't return until Aug. 22.

Jimmy Haynes declined his $1.5 million option with the Reds and filed for free agency. The right-hander went 15-10 with a 4.12 ERA in 34 starts for Cincinnati.