2012 Chachi Transactions #1 Jim Thome

Jim Thome, who helped close out The Vet in 2003 and open up Citizens Bank Park in 2004, is returning to Philadelphia.  The slugger signed a one-year deal and he'll be back in red pinstripes in 2012.  He'll mostly be used as a big left-handed bat off the bench, although he may want to dig up his first base mitt as well.  Depending on the severity of Ryan Howard's ruptured Achilles' tendon, Thome could see some time at first.  All the articles I've read are quick to point out that Thome has played just 28 innings in the field since he left the Phillies following the 2005 season.  But playing first is just like riding a bike, right?

In 93 games last year with the Twins and Indians, Thome hit .256 with 15 home runs and 50 RBIs.  His 604 career home runs currently has him in eighth place on the all-time list and he needs just six more to pass Sammy Sosa and move into seventh place.

Thome becomes the first card in the hot-off-the-presses 2012 Chachi Transactions insert set and he becomes the first name added to the New Additions list below.  I'll attempt to track the Phillies comings and goings in the Transactions set, using the minimal by-line featured in the 1979 O-Pee-Chee set.  (See here for reference.)

Moving On

Dane Sardinha (10-11) 10/10/11 - Filed for free agency

Brandon Moss (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency

Pete Orr (11) 10/17/11 - Outrighted to Lehigh Valley and filed for free agency; 11/3/11 - Resigned by the Phillies as a minor league free agent with an invitation to Spring Training

Brad Lidge (08-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Roy Oswalt (10-11) 10/24/11 - Team option declined

Ross Gload (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Raul Ibanez (09-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Ryan Madson (03-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Jimmy Rollins (00-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Brian Schneider (10-11) 10/30/11 - Filed for free agency

Juan Perez (11) 11/2/11 - Became a minor league free agent

New Additions

Jim Thome (03-05) 11/5/11 - Signed as a free agent formerly with the Cleveland Indians