CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Indians will get one last shot at keeping free agent Jim Thome, the club's career home run leader.

	Thome

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said Friday night that he spoke to Thome's agent, Pat Rooney, "two or three times'' the past few days. Shapiro said the talks were not negotiations, but added that the parties planned to have more meaningful discussions next week.

Shapiro said Rooney has promised to give the Indians "a last shot'' at signing Thome.

"We never considered our initial offer a drop-dead deal anyway,'' Shapiro said.

On Oct. 31, the budget-conscious Indians offered Thome a four-year deal worth about $45 million that includes incentives based on attendance and performance.

That deal was trumped a few days later by the Philadelphia Phillies, who blew Cleveland's package away with a reported five-year, $75 million offer.

So far, the Indians and Phillies are the only teams involved in the Thome sweepstakes. However, Rooney told The Plain Dealer that a third team has entered the picture.

That team could be the Chicago Cubs, who hired manager Dusty Baker on Friday and now could be ready to make a move in the free agent market.

The Cubs could be attractive to Thome, who is from Peoria, Ill., and spends much of his off-season there.

Rooney has not returned numerous phone messages left by The Associated Press.

The agent told the paper that Thome "still wants to get something done in Cleveland.''

"No one should ever question Jimmy's loyalty to the Indians or the city of Cleveland,'' Rooney said. "He loves Cleveland and the fans. It's going to be a very difficult decision if he leaves. He really wants to see if he can get something worked out in Cleveland.''

Shapiro said it will be difficult for the Indians to significantly improve their offer, but the club has left some room for "flexibility and creativity.''

It's possible the Indians could tack on two vested option years to their initial proposal.

The 32-year-old Thome hit a Cleveland record 52 home runs this past season. He led the AL in slugging percentage (.677) and walks (122) and reached base in his final 55 games and 131 of 147 overall.

Thome also received the Roberto Clemente Award, presented by major league baseball for a player who exemplifies passion for the game, sportsmanship and community involvement.

He also was a unanimous choice as the Indians Man of the Year, given by the Cleveland chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

However, Thome did not attend a banquet in Cleveland on Friday night.