"A horde of reporters had finished interviewing Minnesota Twins designated hitter Jim Thome late Sunday afternoon in the Target Field clubhouse. Thome, who will turn 41 next month, had slammed career home run No. 596, a three-run, 490-foot clout that lifted the home team over Kansas City and within five games of first place in the AL Central.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Thome, who a year ago hit 25 home runs for the Twins and this season has six, sat alone at his locker and relaxed.

"Are you going to play next year?" one lingering reporter asked.

Thome, a future Baseball Hall of Famer, sat back in his chair, paused and smiled.

"You know what, that's a good question," he said. "I don't want to say no, because I love the game. It's been a wonderful ride. But to look ahead, I try not to do that yet."

Thome, playing for $3 million this year, is in his 21st major league season. He has made almost $140 million during that time.

This season, he is averaging a home run every 16.1 at bats.

"Why wouldn't you play next season?" he was asked.

Thome nodded.

"I hear you. Exactly," he said. "