Jim Thome participated Wednesday night in the White Sox’s ”Bring Me Home” campaign that raised money to benefit foster families in Illinois.
As far as Thome is concerned, he wouldn’t rule out a return to the Sox’s family.
”My door is open,” said Thome, a free agent who spent nearly four full seasons with the Sox before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 31. ”Just call me.”
Thome said he understands the business side of baseball while praising the entire Sox’s organization.
”I want to play baseball,” Thome said. ”Right now we’re talking to a few teams, and we’ll see what happens. It’s been a slow winter in the market.”
Sox first baseman Paul Konerko, who started the campaign with Thome and their wives, doesn’t believe the door has closed on a return by Jermaine Dye and Thome.
”There is still an outside chance on both of them, certainly Jim,” Konerko said. ”I wouldn’t shut the door on that yet. And even if it was for this year, I wouldn’t shut the door on it for the future. We’ll see. I like the way the team is shaping up otherwise.
” … I know they’re going to be playing somewhere. When I show up to spring training and they’re not there, I’ll worry about that.”
Konerko said he was ”always” lobbying on Jim’s behalf, stating that Thome and Dye can remain productive players.
”They’ll be fine, no matter what.”
In other Sox news, John Danks said a follow-up examination on his left index finger was fine.
”I’m going to live,” Danks quipped in a text message.
Photo: Jim Thome salutes the White Sox fans in 2008. (Jamie Squire / Getty Images)
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