Nov 11, 2009

MLB's White Sox Decline Option On Dye

Chicago's Jermaine Dye Becomes Free Agent After Buyout

The Chicago White Sox have declined the mutual option on veteran right fielder and former World Series MVP Jermaine Dye and chose to buy him out instead which will make him eligible for the free agent marketplace. The White Sox chose to buy Dye out for $950,000 as opposed to picking up his option that would have required the team to pay him a $12 million salary for next season which was part of a two year $22 million extension Dye signed in late 2007. The 35 year old veteran batted .250 with 27 home runs and 81 RBI's in 141 games for the White Sox this past season.

Dye has a career batting average of .274 with 325 home runs and 1072 RBI's, and in the past 5 seasons with the Chicago White Sox he batted .278 with 164 home runs and 461 RBI's. Although Dye was a key contributor offensively during his tenure with the White Sox, he has been banged up over the past couple seasons causing the 14 year veteran's productivity to fall off, especially this past season. In light of his numbers declining, his health being questionable, and his age approaching retirement status, the White Sox made a very smart move in buying Dye out despite the fact that he was a key force in wining a Worlds Series championship for the franchise in 2005. The Sox are a sure bet to find and develop equal or better quality talent with many more years of potential ahead of them with the $11 million they will save from the buyout. The White Sox have been slipping in the standings as of late and age has certainly become a factor. The betting odds of them remaining competitive in the AL Central division without a changing of the guard are extremely low, and until they make some necessary personnel changes they will remain a marginal baseball team at best.

By Bryan Jackson
Staff Writer
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