Jim Thome (back) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A Clearwater Friday.

Thome has been used as a DH in extended spring training games and hasn't had any setbacks so far. He'll likely be with Clearwater for a week, as the Phillies are aiming to have him back to serve as the DH in their three interleague series starting on June 8.

Jim Thome (back) could be activated from the disabled list in time to serve as the designated hitter in the Phillies' three interleague series starting on June 8.

Thome has been the DH in extended spring games the past few days, but it's not clear if he'll go on a rehab assignment. He's been out since late April with back issues.

Jim Thome (back) played in an extended spring training intrasqaud game Thursday.

Thome has been sidelined for nearly a month now with a lower back strain. It's not clear when he'll be ready for an official minor league rehab assignment.

Jim Thome (back) will not return from the disabled list when he's eligible Monday.

Thome landed on the disabled list late last month due to a lower back strain. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said Friday that he has begun taking some dry swings, but he'll need to increase baseball activities before rejoining the team. It's not clear if he'll need a brief rehab stint.

Phillies placed 1B Jim Thome on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 29, with a lower back strain.

Thome hasn't played since tweaking his lower back on a slide into second base during Saturday's game. He hoped to avoid a DL-stint, but the Phillies couldn't go short-handed on their bench any longer. The 41-year-old slugger is just 2-for-18 (.111) with 10 strikeouts this season. The Phillies have recalled catcher Erik Kratz from the minors to take his place on the active roster.

Jim Thome (back) is unavailable on Tuesday night.

Thome made an early exit from Saturday's game against the Cubs after feeling back discomfort and is still trying to work his way through it. The veteran slugger has a .111/.238/.111 slash line in 12 games played.

Jim Thome was still experiencing back discomfort Sunday after making an early exit from Saturday's game.

"It's no worse, and about the same as [Saturday]," the veteran slugger told reporters. It's not clear whether he'll be ready for Monday's series finale against the Cubs.

Jim Thome left Saturday's game in the top of the fifth inning due to apparent back stiffness.

Ty Wigginton replaced Thome at first base for the Phillies. We'll pass along any updates on his status as soon as more is known.

Jim Thome is getting the start at first base for the Phillies Sunday.

He's batting fifth behind Hunter Pence. The last time Thome received a start somewhere other than designated hitter was June 13, 2007. He played some first base in spring training and is expected to receive a start or two there per week while Ryan Howard (Achilles) is sidelined.

Jim Thome woke up "a little sore" Tuesday after playing first base in a minor league game on Monday.

Not surprising given that Thome hasn't played first base in a major league game since 2007 and hasn't played the position regularly since his previous stint with the Phillies in 2005. The 41-year-old is slated to get some more work in during a minor league game on Thursday. "I just need to play, I need to go do it," said Thome. "I'm excited to get back out there." Ty Wigginton and John Mayberry Jr. figure to see most of the playing time at first base until Ryan Howard (Achilles surgery) is ready to return, but Thome could also get a start or two per week.

Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that Jim Thome focused on stretching and flexibility and also lost some weight over the offseason as he prepares to play some first base.

The Phillies would like Thome to be available to fill in some at first while Ryan Howard is recovering from Achilles surgery. We anticipate that he can be passable enough to get maybe a start there per week, but Ty Wigginton will be the primary first baseman while Howard is on the shelf. Thome will simply be a pinch-hitter for much of the year while filling the DH spot in interleague play.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. told Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com on Friday that it's conceivable Jim Thome could play first base as often as four or five times per month.

"Our medical people are surprised at the shape he's in," said Amaro. "They think he might be better now than he was when we first signed him in 2002." Thome, 41, has played just 28 innings at first base over the last five seasons and none since 2007. It's not impossible, but John Mayberry, Jr. and Ty Wigginton should see the bulk of the playing time at the position until Ryan Howard is ready to return from Achilles' tendon surgery.

Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Jim Thome is expected play first base "once a week at most" for the Phillies.

In other words, he's not a real option to fill in for Ryan Howard (Achilles) at the beginning of the season. It's not a surprise, as Thome has played just 28 total innings at first base over the last five seasons and said he hasn't even taken grounders at the position since 2009. The 41-year-old did say that he'll likely arrive to spring training early so that he can prepare himself to be available to play first when needed. "I looked in the mirror and said, 'OK, I haven't played first base, but also I like the challenge of preparing over the winter to get ready for it,'" Thome said.

Phillies signed DH-1B Jim Thome to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.

Thome passed his physical Saturday, making the deal official. The 41-year-old batted .256/.361/.477 with 15 homers and 50 RBI over 324 plate appearances between the Twins and Indians in 2011 and, at the very least, will give manager Charlie Manuel a weapon off the bench next year. He could also be an option to fill in at first base if Ryan Howard's recovery from Achilles surgery goes slowly, but, given that he has logged a total of 28 innings at the position over the last six years, that might not be realistic.

Updating a previous item, Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com hears that the Phillies have signed Jim Thome to a one-year, $1.25 million contract.

The deal is pending a physical, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday. It's a fine deal for the Phillies, who will likely use him as a left-handed bat off the bench, though he could also be an emergency option at first base if Ryan Howard (Achilles) misses the start of the season. Thome, 41, previously played with the Phillies from 2003-2005. The veteran slugger currently sits at eighth place on the all-time list with 604 home runs.

Jim Thome, an impending free agent, said Monday that he hopes to continue playing next season.

The Indians probably won't have much interest in bringing the 41-year-old back for 2012, but there should be quite a few American League squads willing to dish out an incentives-based deal to a powerful part-time DH. "I want to keep playing," Thome said. "I'll keep playing. I just have to have teams that call me. I can't go play in the backyard by myself."

Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports that the White Sox might consider asking Jim Thome to be their hitting coach next season.

White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and Thome have an annual dinner after every season, and Van Schouwen thinks Reinsdorf could ask Thome at this dinner if he's interested in being added to the team's coaching staff. Of course, Thome indicated last month that he's leaning towards playing another season, and even if he did retire, there's no guarantee he wants to get into coaching. The 41-year-old hit well enough this season that he shouldn't have trouble finding a DH job if he does come back in 2012.

The Twins have received $20,000 from the Indians to complete their trade of Jim Thome.

It's a modest sum, as this appears to have been more of a good faith trade in order for Thome to get a shot at the playoffs. He won't, of course, with the Indians falling out of contention. Thome is undecided on possibly returning for a 22nd season next year.

Jim Thome returned to Minnesota in style Friday, singling and blasting a solo homer in a win over the Twins.

The solo shot gave the Tribe a three-run cushion and it proved to be the winning run after the Twins put up two runs in the ninth. Thome has stayed relatively healthy this season and posted a .246/.348/.462 batting line with 14 homers. He's undecided whether he wants to return for a 22nd season.

ESPN's Jayson Stark has spoken with a "close friend" of Jim Thome who says the 41-year-old slugger is "seriously torn" about returning for a 22nd major-league season in 2012.

Thome has hit just one home run in 50 at-bats since being acquired by the Indians last month, but appeared to still have plenty left in the tank earlier this season. He should be back for at least one more season in 2012.