Manager Ozzie Guillen hasn't spoken directly with free agent slugger Jim Thome, but Guillen's message remained the same regarding his preference for not wanting a full-time designated hitter.
"Maybe what I have in mind isn't convenient for him," Guillen said Sunday, adding that he would remain in Chicago until Monday.
Guillen said he hasn't exchanged thoughts with Thome, who has been primarily a designated hitter with the Sox for nearly four seasons and was 4-for-17 last September with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"Whoever wants to come to the White Sox as long as I'm here is not going to be a full-time DH," Guillen said after a brisk question-and-answer session with fans. "Nobody. I don't care who it is.''
But Guillen said even if Thome accepted the idea of a limited DH role, it wouldn't guarantee that the Sox would sign him.
"Then we got to talk about the roster," Guillen said.
If Thome joins the Sox, there would be a significant trickle-down effect. The Sox would have to take a player off their 40-man roster. They took catcher Cole Armstrong off the 40-man roster last week just to make room for recently-signed backup catcher Ramon Castro.
More important is how Thome's place on the roster would affect the makeup and playing time for the bench.
Adding Thome could affect the status of Jayson Nix since Omar Vizquel is the primary backup infielder. Thome also could reduce the at-bats of left-handed hitter Mark Kotsay and Andruw Jones.
There's also an important decision on how many pitchers to keep. The Sox have carried 12 pitchers for most of Guillen's six-year tenure. Carrying only 11 pitchers to accommodate Thome could mean that the Sox would carry one fewer reliever, which could place a burden on the starting rotation.
Guillen said that the front office and his coaching staff is split on whether to pursue Thome.
"I'm doing this for the respect of Jim Thome and the fans and for what Jim Thome has done for the game," Guillen said.
Photo: Ozzie Guillen and Jim Thome at spring training. (Tribune file)
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While Thome brings pop with him, he also brings his cement shoes. He'll never go first to third on a single or score on a double. Ozzie knows what he's doing, the Sox have BEEN in need of speed on the base pads and it seems they made an effort to go in that direction. If a platoon at DH is what is needed to accomplish that so be it.
"Bring him back here Ozzie for the sake of the fans."
For the fans?!?!? Oh c'mon Cameron, sure it would be great to see Thome hit 600 but I think I'd rather see the team compete for the title. Just a bit more interesting to me, that's all.
Bringing back Thome in a partial DH role is not the way to go. Sure, he's a great character and community guy but he clogs up the bases and takes up a roster spot that is needed elsewhere. If Ozzie decided to go with one DH all year then that's different, but it looks like he's married to his DH rotation and that means we need guys that can play a position as well as DH (like Kubel did last season).
I like Thome but nostalga is not a reason to bring him back.
I wouldn't mind Thome or another lefthanded bat with some pop (15+ HRs) being added to the roster.
I worry if Konerko or Quentin gets injured the Sox would be in serious trouble because Kotsay & A. Jones would need to play and produce almost everyday and Jones last years average of .214 scares me !!
Tyler Flowers should be the DH and Daniel Hudson should be the 5th starter. Gordon Beckham proved he could play every day, why not give these other kids a chance.
If you think that Thome will make the Sox not be a contender in the Central then your an idiot.The Sox are a contender with that starting rotation.Thome will help the middle of our lineup alot.He wont make this team not be a contender the starting rotation will if they dont have a good season.
"Rotationing?"
You mean rotating, right, Tribune?
Thome is begging to come back here.Im very sure he would accept a limited DH role.Bring him back here Ozzie for the sake of the fans.The DH rotation that you want so bad will look much better with him there.Jones and Thome would not be as bad a Jones and Kotsay.