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Unless a DH goes down, it looks like the end of the line for Frank Thomas

Posted March 07, 2009 10:00 pm

Scot Gregor

"Well it's all right, riding around in the breeze.Well it's all right, if you live the life you please."

- End of the Line by The Traveling Wilburys

Is this really the end of the line for Frank Thomas?

Apparently so.

White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf refers to Thomas as "the best right-handed hitter I've ever seen," and it's hardly hyperbole.

Thomas - an offensive force with the Sox from 1990-2005 - is the franchise leader in 10 offensive categories. And among major-league leaders, the 40-year-old Thomas ranks 19th all-time with 521 home runs and is 21st in career RBI (1,704) and on-base percentage (. 419).

"What a man he was," one major-league scout said of Thomas. "When he hit the ball, it went a long ways."

The scout spoke of Thomas in the past tense, but the veteran designated hitter wants to play in 2009. Much like several other aging free agents (Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez, Pedro Martinez, Jim Edmonds, Ray Durham), the telephone has yet to ring.

"I think Frank can still be a productive player," a major-league agent said. "He can still crush the ball and he gets on base. But given today's market, it's been tough on everybody."

Out of options?

Following his messy departure from the White Sox shortly after they won the 2005 World Series, Thomas wasn't exactly swamped with offers.

Since he hasn't played first base on a regular basis since 2000, National League teams had virtually no interest in his services. That left the 14 American League teams, and the Oakland Athletics happened to be looking for a designated hitter in 2006. Thomas turned out to be a perfect fit.

Playing for a base salary of just $500,000, Thomas carried the Athletics into the playoffs while leading the club with 39 home runs and 114 RBI. He finished fourth in MVP voting.

Showing he could still blister the baseball, Thomas then cashed in with a two-year, $18 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. Thomas earned his money with the Jays in 2007, hitting 26 HR and driving in 95 runs. On June 28th of that season, the mammoth DH became the 21st player in history to hit 500 home runs.

Looking like he could keep swinging well into his 40s, Thomas returned to Toronto last season but was stunned when the Blue Jays released him on April 21. The day before, the slumping Thomas (. 167, 13 strikeouts in 60 at-bats) complained after being removed from the starting lineup.

Thomas then returned to the A's after being released, but he missed three full months (June, July, September) with an injured right quadriceps.

Last September, Thomas dismissed any retirement talk and looked forward to playing this season.

"I've made my money, now it's about fun," Thomas told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I still have some things I want to accomplish. My goal is to come back here (Oakland), and we'll see how it works out. That would be my first choice.

"Knowing I'll be healthy is good. I'm ready to get this behind me and gear up for next year."

The A's weren't interested in bringing Thomas back for another year. The Seattle Mariners reportedly were, but that was before they signed Ken Griffey Jr.

Last month, Thomas told FOX Sports he was "a little shocked" by the lack of interest.

Barring an injury to a designated hitter already in place, Thomas could be at the end of the line.

A Sox reunion?

Thomas and White Sox general manager Kenny Williams were fairly good friends before 2005.

But when Thomas reaggravated an ankle injury that season and played in only 34 games, he was cut loose after Jim Thome came over from Philadelphia in a trade.

That led to a war of words between the two, with Williams delivering the knockout blow the following spring: "He's an idiot. He's selfish. That's why we don't miss him."

There hasn't been much discussion about Thomas around the Sox' camp since that time, but sooner or later, the "Big Hurt" is going to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame representing the South Siders.

Another Sox legend - Robin Ventura - believes Thomas and the White Sox will patch things up long before Cooperstown comes calling.

"Frank is going to be back with the White Sox in some capacity," said Ventura, a teammate of Thomas from 1990-98. "I know there have been some problems there, but he played most of his life with the White Sox and everything will be fine. You can't do what he did for them and not still be a part of things. Frank and the Sox can benefit each other."

Thomas played with Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and most of the coaching staff, but he'd be more likely to wind up as Reinsdorf's special assistant or a goodwill ambassador.

As for returning to the White Sox as a uniformed player, why not just for one game so Thomas can retire in the style he deserves?

"Speaking for myself, I knew when it was time to retire," said Ventura, who did just that following a 2004 season spent with the Los Angeles Dodgers. "My ankle was really bad and I couldn't play four or five games in a row. I think Frank is different. He still wants to play, but it has to be the right situation and it's not a real good market to be in right now.

"It's kind of weird when it comes to an end because it's such a big part of your life. But if he doesn't play again, I'm sure Frank will be fine."

At the end of the line.

<center><table border="1" width="250" cellpadding="4"><tr><td><center><img src="/images/sports/thomas.jpg" width="240"></center> Thomas stats Frank "Big Hurt" Thomas is still looking for work, but he remains the White Sox' all-time leader in the following offensive categories: Home runs 448 RBI 1,465 Runs 1,327 Doubles 447 On-base percentage .427 Slugging percentage .568 Extra-base hits 906 Total bases 3,949 Walks 1,466 Source: White Sox </td></tr></table></center>

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