Thome Time for the Phillies

Jim Thome’s loyalty to the Cleveland Indians did not run as deep as the pockets of the Philadelphia Phillies, who lured baseball’s most coveted free-agent slugger from the only organization he has played for with a six-year, $87.5-million deal that will become official pending his passing a physical today.

Neither Phillies’ General Manager Ed Wade nor Indians’ General Manager Mark Shapiro would confirm the agreement Monday, but sources from both teams said Thome traveled to Philadelphia on Monday night and will be examined today.

Thome, the 32-year-old first baseman who hit a club-record 52 home runs for the Indians last season, also informed teammates and friends of his plans. A news conference to announce his signing the biggest contract in Phillie history is expected today or Wednesday.

“I talked to Jimmy [Monday] and he’s pretty pumped, it’s a good challenge for him,” Cleveland outfielder Ellis Burks said. “He went back and forth between Cleveland and Philadelphia. He finally picked Philadelphia.”

The Indians made every effort to re-sign one of the most popular players in franchise history, bumping their original four-year, $45-million offer to five years at $60 million, and then adding a sixth-year vesting option that would have increased the package to about $75 million.

But the Phillies’ aggressive attempts to improve as they prepare to move into a new stadium in 2004 and a deal that guarantees an average of about $14.5 million a year were enough to attract Thome, whose signing could trigger a baseball renaissance in Philadelphia and the return of the dark ages in Cleveland.

The Phillies have had a losing record in 15 of the last 17 seasons, but despite the departure of All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen, who was traded to St. Louis in July, Philadelphia has one of baseball’s most promising young lineups, a core that includes outfielders Pat Burrell and Bobby Abreu, catcher Mike Lieberthal and shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

Add Thome, who has hit at least 30 homers for seven consecutive years and has driven in more than 100 runs in six of the last seven seasons, and veteran third baseman David Bell, who signed a four-year, $17-million contract on Nov. 24, and the Phillies have an offense that should contend for the National League East title.

The Phillies, flush with cash after the departures of Rolen and free agents Doug Glanville, Robert Person, Mike Timlin and Terry Adams -- who accounted for some $30 million in payroll -- have also made a three-year, $30-million offer to pitcher Tom Glavine, the two-time Cy Young Award winner who is expected to decide between the Atlanta Braves, Phillies and New York Mets this week.

“Thome adds a big bat to the lineup,” a Phillie source said. “And with Bell, we have a pretty good young team. If we can land Glavine -- and I think our chances are decent -- that would be great. I think he’s taking a second look at us after the Thome deal.”

In Thome’s wake, Cleveland will not rock. Once one of baseball’s most dominant franchises -- the Indians won six American League Central titles and two AL pennants from 1995-2001 -- Cleveland is clearly in a rebuilding mode.

Since last December, Thome, pitchers Bartolo Colon, Chuck Finley and Paul Shuey, outfielders Kenny Lofton and Juan Gonzalez and second baseman Roberto Alomar have left Cleveland via trades or free agency. Slugger Manny Ramirez left after the 2000 season.

Teams such as the Angels used to model themselves after the Indians, locking up young stars to multi-year contracts.

But now, the only recognizable names in Cleveland are Burks and shortstop Omar Vizquel, who may also be traded this winter.

When Eric Wedge reports for his first spring training as the Indians’ manager, he’ll have to decide if players such as outfielders Alex Escobar and Coco Crisp, pitchers Justin Davis and Billy Traber, first baseman Ben Broussard, catcher Victor Martinez and third baseman Marshall McDougall are ready for the big leagues.

Shapiro’s efforts to re-sign Thome seemed like a last grasp at the past, a final attempt to stiff-arm mediocrity and give the Indians a cornerstone to build on.

But now some in Cleveland fear the Indians could lose 100 games in 2003, the depths of which Cleveland hasn’t fathomed since 1991, when the Indians went 57-105.

“Coming up in the Indians system, Jimmy was a guy everyone looked up to,” Cleveland infielder John McDonald told the Associated Press.

“I always wanted to play next to him, and I’m just sorry I won’t ever get a chance to do that again. I’m happy for Jimmy and his family, but I’m just really sorry for the Indians family.”