Jim Thome returns to the Phillies, inking a $1.25 million, one-year contract with the team as a free agent. The 41 year-old slugger, who hit .256 with 15 homers that included his 600th career round-tripper with the Twins and the Indians last season, had successfully completed three seasons of his six-year $85 million deal in his first stint with the club before being traded the White Sox in 2005 for Aaron Rowand and two southpaw pitching prospects, Gio Gonzalez and Daniel Haigwood.