PHILADELPHIA — Veteran slugger Jim Thome agreed Friday to a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies, The Associated Press reported.

"I'll keep playing," Thome said last month. "I just need teams to call me. I can't go play in the backyard by myself. I don't know the demand for a 41-year-old DH, but my passion is I want to continue to play."

The Phillies, yet another team he's spent time with over his 21 seasons, granted him that wish for $1.25 million.

Where — and if — he'll play in the field, is a big question. Thome, a Phillie from 2003-05, has not played defensively since 2007, and might be a little rusty at first base, should he be called on to play there as Ryan Howard recovers from Achilles surgery.

Notes

• Bob Forsch, the only pitcher in Cardinals history to throw two no-hitters, died in Weeki Wachee, Fla., of an aneurysm after experiencing discomfort in his upper chest. He was 61.

The death came less than a week after Forsch threw out the first pitch at Game 7 of the World Series, a few hours before St. Louis beat Texas 6-2 to win the championship.

• Nationals first baseman Michael Morse, a former Mariner, hit a home run over the center-field wall to lead the MLB All-Star team to a 6-2 win over the Taiwan national team. The MLB All-Stars lead 3-0 in the five-game series.

• The Diamondbacks extended the contracts of general manager Kevin Towers and manager Kirk Gibson three years through 2014.

• Former major-league catcher Scott Servais has agreed to become an assistant general manager with the Angels.