CLEVELAND -- The Indians and Phillies are still waiting for free-agent first baseman Jim Thome to make his decision on which team he'll sign with.

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said he has spoken with Thome's agent, Pat Rooney, five or six times since Cleveland made a final contract offer to Thome on Monday, a five-year deal that raised the dollar value into the $60 million range.

	Jim Thome First Base Free agent Profile
	2002 SEASON STATISTICS GM HR RBI R SB AVG 147 52 118 101 1 .304

Phillies officials also have had several conversations with Rooney recently, mostly to tie up loose ends from the Phillies' last proposal (six years, $87-88 million guaranteed with a vesting option for a seventh year that is believed to bring the total potential value of the offer to between $100-105 million), ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported. Rooney told the Phillies that at this point, it's up to Thome to make a decision, that there's "not much else they can do" except wait for Thome to decide.

A major league official who spoke Wednesday morning with Rooney told ESPN.com that Thome may not make a decision today. In fact, he may take all weekend. Thome has a lot of family members coming for Thanksgiving and may opt to take some time and let his family weigh in on the matter.

Stories in Philadelphia papers on the Phillies' offer to Thome on Monday were slightly exaggerated, Stark reported. The Phillies did offer a sixth guaranteed year, but not in the $90-95 million range, as was reported. There is a vesting option for a seventh year.

Shapiro did not describe his calls with Rooney as "actively negotiating," but said they were simply to answer questions. Shapiro also said he got no sense of which way Thome was leaning or how close he is to making a decision. "Today's conversations, from both sides, were just to get to the point where the next conversation is one where he either says yes or no," Shapiro said.

Shapiro tried to call Thome personally Tuesday, to "tell him that regardless of what he decides, it's been an honor to watch him play here, and it will be an honor to watch him play in the future, either here or in Philadelphia. And it was to let him know that if there was any question or concern that was still out there. ... I'm here for him as he goes into the final decision-making process."

While Phillies general manager Ed Wade, team president David Montgomery and assistant GM Ruben Amaro were part of a face-to-face meeting with Thome at his agent's office in Northbrook, Ill., on Monday, Shapiro reiterated that the Indians had no more dollars left to throw Thome's way: "Without a doubt, at this point, we're done negotiating guaranteed dollars. But read that whole sentence. I didn't say we're done negotiating."

When asked if the Indians could do more beyond guaranteed dollars, Shapiro said: "If there are, Pat would already have been made aware of them."

A baseball official who had been in contact with Rooney recently told Stark that Thome's "heart strings are pulling him one place (Cleveland), and everything else is pulling him toward the other place (Philadelphia). But I still think everybody will probably hear something within 24 hours."

Shapiro seemed to think that might not be the case, saying he was leaving Thursday morning to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Baltimore, "and I'd be surprised if I don't get a call before then. But I understand this is a huge decision for a person with a big heart who doesn't make decisions without recognizing the consequences on all the people that decision will touch." Even if Thome does decide by Thursday, physicals and contract language would make it impossible for an official announcement and press conference to come before next week.

Cleveland made its initial offer, a four-year deal worth between $40 million and $48 million, to Thome on Oct. 31. A few days later, the Phillies made an offer thought to be worth $75 million over five years.

"We want to sign Jim Thome," Shapiro told Stark on Monday. "We're extending ourselves (in this offer) to levels that will make it a challenge to operate. But we recognize his importance here as a person and a player to both our organization and the city. And this offer reflects our ownership's recognition of that."

The Phillies signed free agent third baseman David Bell to a $17 million, four-year deal on Sunday. The addition of Bell could help the Phillies get Thome; the pair were teammates during Bell's two stints with Cleveland, and they are good friends.

Wade said Thome is "anxious to make a decision." Thome and his wife, Andrea, are expecting their first child next month.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.