There could be a new team for Cleveland Indians fans to worry about -- the Chicago Cubs.

Cubs front office officials played host to free agent Jim Thome at lunch Wednesday in Chicago, though the visit was merely a courtesy to Thome's agent, Pat Rooney. Thome, who is from Peoria, Ill., grew up rooting for the Cubs and requested the meeting.

The Cubs had declined to advertise Thome's visit, but new manager Dusty Baker is believed to have blabbed to the media or to someone who informed the media about Thome's arrival.

"It was a good visit,'' Chicago general manager Jim Hendry said. "I have known Jim a little bit before, and I know Pat Rooney real well. It was a pleasant lunch.''

It's unlikely the Cubs would make a serious run at Thome, the most coveted slugger in this year's free agent class. Chicago has been grooming minor leaguer Hee Seop Choi for their first base job.

"I would say right now you never say never, but we are very committed to making sure that Hee Seop Choi gets a chance to play,'' Hendry said. "Pat may get back to me on some things, but Jim has a lot of things on his plate and I think it was just a matter of him wanting to express to me that this is one of the places that he really wanted to think about.''

But the Cubs' interest could trigger other teams to make offers to Thome.

Meanwhile, Cleveland's career home run leader still has two contract proposals to consider.

The Indians presented him with a four-year deal worth about $45 million on Oct. 31. It was dwarfed a few days later by a reported five-year, $75 million offer from the Philadelphia Phillies, who have made signing Thome their No. 1 offseason priority.

Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro is expected to meet with Rooney again this week when the Indians will likely increase their offer by adding two vested option years to their initial proposal.

Last week, Shapiro said Rooney had promised the Indians would get a "last shot" to sign Thome.

Shapiro and Rooney did not return phone messages seeking comment Tuesday.

Unless another team enters the bidding soon, Thome probably will make his decision before Thanksgiving. The Orioles are the only other club believed to have an interest in Thome, but the Orioles say they have their eyes on several free agents, among them Japanese star outfielder Hideki Matsui, Ivan Rodriguez, Cliff Floyd, Edgardo Alfonzo and Frank Thomas, in addition to Thome.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.