"The Twins on Thursday dealt designated hitter Jim Thome to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for a player to be named later, reuniting the slugger with the team he broke in with and hit 334 home runs for over 12 seasons.

The deal takes Thome away from the 55-75 Twins and up to the fringes of the American League Central race. Cleveland, at 63-64, is 6 1/2 games behind first-place Detroit in the division race.

"It's a bittersweet deal," Twins General Manager Bill Smith said, "but there's no question that this is the right thing to do for Jim Thome. He is all the superlative things we knew we were getting two years ago when he came here. At this point in his Hall of Fame career, this is the right thing for him.

"It sends him back home, where he started his career in Cleveland. He had many, many great moments. We are appreciative of everything he's brought this organization.""