Jim Thome could trigger a $100,000 bonus in time for his 40th birthday by registering his 250th at-bat of the season. According to the Pioneer Press, Thome who has a one-year, $1.5 million contract for 2010 with the Minnesota Twins can make another $100,000 if he gets 21 more at-bats. The left-handed hitting slugger is currently sitting at 229 at-bats.

Agents often have incentive bonuses placed in contracts where both the team and the team will gain mutual benefit. Thome, now in the twilight of his career, can still continue his career with a low base salary which appeases the team who may be reluctant to sign him, but he can earn an upside bonus should he exceed expectations. These incentive bonuses are not limited to the players at the end of their career. Some players get bonuses based on winning MVP or Cy Young Awards, or finishing games as a pitcher or accumulating certain number of plate appearances as a hitter. The Twins could also be stingy and not play Thome for the rest of the year, but that’s unlikely unless he gets hurt.

Thome is currently .266/.391/.585 with 18 home runs and 45 RBIs in his only season with the Twins. The future Hall-of-Famer has publicly said that he would like to be back with the Twins in the future.

“I would love to stay,” he said in May. “It’s a great place, the people, the organization, the guys, the clubhouse. It’s been wonderful. I’ve had a blast.”