Jim Thome’s one-year deal worth up to $4.4 million

By Jan 18, 2011, 11:17 AM EST
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Jim Thome turned down more money from the Rangers to re-sign with the Twins for just $3 million in upfront cash, but Joe Christensen of the Minneapolis Star Tribune has the details on the contract’s incentives:

* $200,000 for 200 plate appearances

* $300,000 for 300 plate appearances

* $300,000 for 350 plate appearances

* $300,000 for 400 plate appearances

Add it all up and Thome can earn $1.4 million in potential incentives, which would push the total value of the contract to $4.4 million. However, he received just 340 plate appearances last season even after seeing his role expanded significantly by Justin Morneau’s season-ending concussion, so reaching 350 or 400 plate appearances this year to trigger the final $600,000 in bonuses isn’t likely.

Mark Simon of ESPN.com crunched the numbers on Thome’s domination of right-handed pitching and found that Thome has the third-highest OPS in baseball versus righties during the past five seasons, behind only Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard. And he was as great as ever against right-handers last year, clobbering them to the tune of .302/.455/.698 to rank second in the league behind MVP winner Josh Hamilton. Not a bad guy to keep for a maximum of $4.4 million.

Braves option Michael Soroka to Triple-A Gwinnett after two starts in comeback bid

Associated PressJun 5, 2023, 10:09 PM EDT
Joseph Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
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ATLANTA – Atlanta right-hander Michael Soroka, who posted an 8.38 ERA in two starts in his comeback from two right Achilles tendon tears, was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday.

The move came after Soroka allowed five runs and seven hits in 3 2/3 innings in Atlanta’s 8-5 win at Arizona on Sunday. All of Soroka’s runs allowed came with two outs. After the game, he said: “That’s not quite me.”

Soroka, an All-Star as a rookie in 2019, was Atlanta’s opening day starter in 2020 before suffering his first Achilles tendon tear early in the season. He needed a follow-up procedure before suffering a second tear in 2021.

The Braves didn’t immediately announce who will replace Soroka in the rotation. An option could be rookie AJ Smith Shawver, who threw 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief in his debut on Sunday.

The Braves on Monday also claimed infielder Lucas Williams off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers and optioned Williams to Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-hander Max Fried was transferred to the 60-day injured list.