Earlier this month, we learned that the White Sox would be interested in adding veteran slugger Jim Thome to their 2012 coaching staff, but according to the Associated Press, Thome is not ready to call it a career just yet.

“I’ll keep playing,” said Thome. “I just need teams to call me. I can’t go play in the backyard by myself. I don’t know the demand for a 41-year-old DH, but my passion is I want to continue to play.”

Thome said that he would prefer to win a World Series ring rather than set individual records. Even though the Indians fell out of contention this season, Thome believes the team “seems primed for success” and that he would like to be a part of it.

“In a year or two, this team can do some very special things,” he said. “They have put the groundwork in, done things the right way.”

Thome hit .256/.361/.477 with 15 HR’s and 50 RBI’s in 277 AB’s for the Twins and Indians in 2011. But the biggest achievement for him this season was reaching the 600 career homer plateau.

Image by Keith Allison under the Creative Commons License.