BASEBALL
	The Jim Thome Signing 12.3.02 How would you like a 38 year old first baseman with a history of chronic back problems to play for your team and make $14 million?  That is exactly what the Phillies will have in the last year of Jim Thome?s new contract.  The signing looks great for next year for the Phillies ? they already had a decent lineup, and now with Thome they should be a powerhouse.  With Jimmy Rollins and Doug Glanville setting things up and Thome, Burrell, Abreau, and Leiberthal knocking them down, the Phillies should score some runs. Likewise, the Phillies also have the makings of a decent pitching staff.  With Robert Person, Vincent Padilla, Randy Wolf, Brett Myers, and Bud Smith they have a strong foundation.  They are currently attempting to sign Tom Glavine as their ace, which would give them a starting staff to contend with the best of the National League. The Phillies are spending a lot of money to win right now.  They have already signed David Bell to a four year, $17 million dollar contract, and now Thome for six years, $85 million (plus an option for year seven at $12 million).  That is a lot of salary taken up by two guys.  Almost $18 million of the Phillies payroll next year will be taken up by Thome and Bell.  They are offering Glavine three years at $30 million, so they will have $28 million tied up in those three guys next year if he signs. This is all well and good, for now.  The problem is that Jimmy Rollins, Vincent Padilla, Randy Wolf, Brandon Duckworth, and Marlon Anderson (not to mention Brett Myers, who was a mid-season call up) all made under $500,000 last year.  All have performed well, and can be expected to continue to perform well, especially when surrounded by the talent that Philadelphia is bringing in.  Unfortunately, they will want to get paid better for their services, and soon.  When these guys all look for their big payday (and Pat Burrell who is only making $1.9 million), will Philly have enough in the bank for them?   An even better question is whether the Jim Thome deal will look as good to Philadelphia in 2004, when he?ll be 34 years old and still making almost $14 million a year, when they are scrounging for money to pay Rollins, Myers, and Burrell to stay?  There will be a lot of pressure on the team to win a World Series in the next two years or else they won?t be able to afford to keep the talent around Thome and may never have anything to show for all this spending.
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