If Jim Thome’s 20th season had ended with a world championship, the slugger may have retired and gone out on top.  Instead, the Twins were quickly eliminated and made to look like a junior varsity team by the Yankees.  Thome also had a very bad series as he went 1-10 and struck out in his final at bat.

Now Thome who just finished up a one year $1.5mm contract with the Twins must decide if he will return for his 21st season or if he will call it a career.  The 40 year old put up a 283 avg., 25 home runs  and did that in only 340 plate appearances.  Thome was able to move up the career home run list this season and currently sits eighth all-time with 589.

The pending free agent said he would discuss his future with his family but was leaning toward returning for a 21st season.  The Twins’ fans immediately became fans of the slugger as he became one of the more popular players.

Thome didn’t provide much insight as he only stated, “Yeah, I think I’m going to come back.”

Thome told the Star Tribune (via La Velle E. Neal III and Joe Christensen),

“I love the game. I’d love to come back, I really would, and Minnesota was a great place, so we’ll see how the winter goes. It would be great.”

Information from Kelsie Smith and Brian Murphey of the St. Paul Pioneer Press was used in this article