Major League Baseball

Guillen says no to bringing back Thome

Published Jan. 26, 2010 2:26 p.m. ET

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White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told veteran slugger Jim Thome he won't be asked to rejoin the team as a designated hitter.

Thome, who played three-plus seasons with the White Sox before he was traded to the Dodgers on Aug. 31, was interested in returning to Chicago.

General manager Ken Williams gave Guillen the final call on the move, and Guillen decided he couldn't give Thome enough at-bats to justify bringing him back.

``I play him once a week or twice a week. I don't think it was fair for him,'' Guillen said Monday. He talked to Thome on Sunday and said the veteran slugger understood the situation.

Guillen has made it clear as the new season approaches that he wants a rotating DH. Backups, such as Mark Kotsay and Andrew Jones, could get a chance to keep their batting eyes sharp while regulars like Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin could have a day off from the field.

And he wants a team that's more aggressive on the bases and can create some runs with speed rather than relying on the longball.

During the team's winter convention last weekend, Williams said he would leave it up to Guillen to decide if the popular Thome would be a good fit to return.

Chicago also did not re-sign right fielder Jermaine Dye, another longball threat who slumped in the second half last season.

``It's a tough conversation when you release somebody. We didn't release Jim, we just don't have him back,'' Guillen said. ``He's a friend. He's a respect player. The way we feel about him. It's not easy.''

Thome, who will be 40 in August, has 564 career homers, including 134 in his three-plus seasons with the White Sox. He hit 23 a year ago for Chicago before he was traded to the Dodgers. With Los Angeles, he was 4 for 17 in 17 games.

The Twins are reportedly interested in signing Thome.

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