Thome in talks with Twins...

...to be an additional left-handed bat in the dugout and veteran presence in the Twins clubhouse, says Kelly Thesier.

And I will be astonished if Bill Smith doesn't find a way to fuck it up, because it would be a GREAT addition to this team. I hate it when the Twins add scrap-heap veterans. In fact, I complain about it religiously on this blog. However, I do, occasionally, press for the signing of aged veterans that I believe have some upside. I did so with Crede last year, thinking he would provide stellar Defense and some additional batting pop over a Buscher-Harris platoon at third base. I said this despite the obvious question marks surrounding his back. The team signed Crede and he did pretty much what was expected of him until his back began acting up again and he was shut down.

Jim Thome would most certainly be another veteran bat that I would be more-than-enamored to have the Twins add to their lineup. He's old for sure. But he hasn't slowed down in the least over the past two seasons, posting a .245/.362/.503/.865 line in 2008 and a .249/.366/.481/.847 line in 2009. Those numbers are hardly shabby. In fact, it puts all the other potential bench options to shame.

Now, there are some considerations when dealing with Thome. First, he doesn't play defense. He would strictly be added for his bat. As shown, however, that's not a bad thing. And considering we have a first baseman already, this shouldn't be a problem. The thing is, though, that we also already have a DH in Jason Kubel, who posted a career-best line of .300/.369/.539/.907 in 2009. So removing him from the lineup is absolutely ridiculous. And besides, Jason Tyner isn't with the team anymore. The thing is, Kubel CAN play Defense and spent time platooning in left field in the past. My thought? Let's put Kubel in left full time, put Thome as the daily DH and leave Delmon Young on the bench where he belongs. Now Kubel is no Bob Allison, but he's also no worse than Delmon Young, who has proven to be one of the worst left fielders in the league. And considering Delmon posted a mere .284/.308/.425/.733 while plodding around like a moron, there should be NO hesitation to replace Delmon with Jason.

If nothing else, Jim Thome is regarded as one of the league's all time nicest guys while we all know that Delmon Young is a grade-A douchebag.

It seems like a no brainer, doesn't it?

UPDATE:

Thome is signed. The one-year deal is worth a cool 1.5 million with incentives pushing it up to 2 million. Good deal. The team is automatically better. No questions asked. Now, the question is...how much better will Gardenhire and Smith allow it to become. Kubel put up career numbers last year and I understand the unwillingness to fix what ain't broke. But there is no doubt in my mind that playing Thome at DH while playing Kubel in left field is the way this transaction should go down. Delmon Young and his terrible bat should come off the bench. Jim Thome has earned the right to at least TRY to start every day. In addition...Delmon Young sucks every time he is on the field. Thome makes the team better.

I'm stoked.

UPDATE II:

Turns out I'm not the only one who thinks that the Twins' signing of Thome is both 1) a very good thing and 2) not something that should be relegated to a "pinch-hitting-only" scenario. Rick Reiley insinuated so on Paul Allen's KFAN show this morning. And Aaron Gleeman (with whom I don't always agree) believes it to be true. Gleeman seems to think that he should play strictly against right handers. However, I definitely think he needs to play all the time if for no other reason than to insure that Delmon Young sits on the bench where belongs.

Maybe we can package Delmon and Perkins for a third baseman?