Jim Thome is traded to the Orioles by the Phillies Slugger Jim Thome has been traded to the Baltimore Orioles by the Philadelphia Phillies for two minor league players. The Phillies will receive right-hander Kyle Simon and catcher Gabriel Lino. The trade was announced Saturday. Thome, 41, is a five-time All-Star in a 22-year career. His 609 home runs are tied with Sammy Sosa for seventh place all-time. His 1,689 runs batted in are 25th all-time. He will serve as a designated hitter for the Orioles. In 30 games for the Phillies this season, Thome hit .242 with five home runs and 15 RBIs. Baltimore will be Thome's sixth team. He played for Cleveland, Minnesota, the Chicago White Sox, Dodgers and Phillies. Cubs sign Cuban defector Jorge Soler Jorge Soler has officially joined the Chicago Cubs, signing a nine-year, $30-million deal that could make the 20-year-old Cuban outfielder a major piece of the team's future as it rebuilds under President Theo Epstein. "We think he provides a ton of potential power for us," General Manager Jed Hoyer said in announcing the deal. We scouted him heavily. It's obviously a significant commitment for us, but we feel like he fits in very well with what we're trying to do. He's the right age, the right talent and we're excited to finally get him started here. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Soler will start out in right field and will initially report to the team's minor league facility in Mesa, Ariz., to work out and get ready for games. Soler batted .304 in seven games during the 2010 junior world championships, helping Cuba win the bronze medal. Hoyer said the plan is to bring Soler along slowly.