Emopunkthrice
11/23/05, 04:43 PM
PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies agreed Wednesday to trade first baseman Jim Thome to the White Sox for center fielder Aaron Rowand.
Phillies general manager Pat Gillick and White Sox general manager Ken Williams were both unavailable to comment, but a source close to the transaction said the deal had been struck.
Philadelphia will assume a large chunk of the $44.5 million remaining on Thome's contract, which runs through 2008, though specific details were not revealed. The swap is pending a physical examination for both players, which could happen by the end of the week.
Injuries led to Thome's worst professional season in 2005, as he batted .207 with seven homers. The emergence of National League Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard made trading Thome a likely scenario.
Gillick wasted little time in finding a match with the defending World Series champions, who may lose first baseman Paul Konerko to free agency. Even if Konerko returns, Thome could be used as a designated hitter.
Trading Thome seemed to be more difficult because of the presence of a no-trade clause, though Thome apparently was willing to waive it to play for a team close to his Peoria, Ill., home.
In Rowand, the Phillies get a proven center fielder who batted .270 with 13 homers and 69 RBIs in 157 games. His 16 stolen bases will also help near the top of the batting order.
Phillies general manager Pat Gillick and White Sox general manager Ken Williams were both unavailable to comment, but a source close to the transaction said the deal had been struck.
Philadelphia will assume a large chunk of the $44.5 million remaining on Thome's contract, which runs through 2008, though specific details were not revealed. The swap is pending a physical examination for both players, which could happen by the end of the week.
Injuries led to Thome's worst professional season in 2005, as he batted .207 with seven homers. The emergence of National League Rookie of the Year Ryan Howard made trading Thome a likely scenario.
Gillick wasted little time in finding a match with the defending World Series champions, who may lose first baseman Paul Konerko to free agency. Even if Konerko returns, Thome could be used as a designated hitter.
Trading Thome seemed to be more difficult because of the presence of a no-trade clause, though Thome apparently was willing to waive it to play for a team close to his Peoria, Ill., home.
In Rowand, the Phillies get a proven center fielder who batted .270 with 13 homers and 69 RBIs in 157 games. His 16 stolen bases will also help near the top of the batting order.