Of course not silly, but everyone's favorite minor league baseball team in Joliet did offer Frank Thomas a contract on Monday. The Jackhammers have a "story" on the team website that details the "offer" the team made to the future Hall of Famer.
Playing off Big Hurt getting ditched over Toronto's fear that he would reach a certain number of at-bats and trigger a $10 million bonus, the Jackhammers have gone all out. If a free palatial imitation apartment in Joliet doesn't get the South Side home run king to return to Chicagoland, what will?
The JackHammers are making Thomas a generous offer. In addition to receiving his Major League (eight million dollars in 2008) salary and Northern League salary and a free apartment, the JackHammers will offer incentives in his contract similar to what he had in Toronto. Thomas will receive a bonus for each power category that he leads the Northern League in: (batting average, home runs and RBI). If Thomas wins the Northern League Triple Crown, he will receive an additional bonus.
So any minute now, I would expect this deal to go down. I mean, the Jackhammers sent contract over a fax machine for heaven's sakes.
This afternoon the JackHammers faxed a contract to Thomas's agent Jeff Borris of the Beverly Hills Sports Council. Thomas and his agent have not responded to the JackHammers. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Albeit clever, this is nothing but a publicity stunt. Which I just fell for big time.
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