Thome won't be back

White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen told veteran slugger Jim Thome he won't be asked to rejoin the team as a designated hitter.

Thome, who played three-plus seasons with the White Sox before he was traded to the Dodgers on Aug. 31, was interested in returning to Chicago.

General manager Ken Williams gave Guillen the final call on the move, and Guillen decided he couldn't give Thome enough at-bats to justify bringing him back.

"I play him once a week or twice a week. I don't think it was fair for him," Guillen said Monday.

Guillen talked to Thome on Sunday and said the veteran slugger understood the situation.

During the team's winter convention last weekend, Williams said he would leave it up to Guillen to decide whether the popular Thome would be a good fit to return.

"It's a tough conversation when you release somebody. We didn't release Jim, we just don't have him back," Guillen said. "He's a friend. He's a (respected) player. The way we feel about him. It's not easy."

Thome, who will be 40 in August, has 564 career homers, including 134 in his three-plus seasons with the White Sox.

The Twins are reportedly interested in signing Thome.

-The Associated Press