Twins sign Thome to one-year deal

MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 14 (UPI) -- The Minnesota Twins announced Friday they have signed 40-year-old designated hitter Jim Thome to a one-year contract.

Thome hit 25 home runs in just 276 at-bats for the Twins last season and moved into eighth place on the all-time homer list with 589. During the season he passed Rafael Palmeiro, Harmon Killebrew, Mark McGwire and Frank Robinson on the career list.

He has batted .278 in a 20-season major league career with 1,624 runs scored. The Twins are his fifth big league team.

Thome has hit at least 20 home runs in 16 seasons, has driven in 100 runs nine times and has made the all-star team on five occasions.