Thome's back! Fan favorite stays with Twins

Published Jan. 14, 2011 10:18 a.m. ET

foxsports

Posted: January 14, 2011, 11:15 a.m. CT
Updated: January 14, 2011, 12:30 p.m. CT

By PATRICK DONNELLY
FOXSportsNorth.com

Designated hitter Jim Thome has agreed to terms on a one-year contract to remain with the Minnesota Twins, the team announced Friday.

Thome, 40, hit a team-high 25 home runs last year in his first season with the Twins. Some of his home runs were among the most memorable moments in the inaugural season at Target Field, including a 10th-inning walk-off blast to beat the White Sox on Aug. 17, and a towering blast off the top of the flagpole in right field against Kansas City on Sept. 6.

The Texas Rangers also were in the running to sign Thome, but he said in a conference call with media on Friday that his comfort level in Minnesota was the deciding factor in his return.

"For me, the main thing in coming back to Minnesota