Seattle Mariners: Trade For Jermaine Dye

According to a report on ESPN, The Chicago White Sox have put a good portion of their roster on the trading block. Some of the prominent names include DH/1B Jim Thome, OF Jermaine Dye, and RP Scott Linebrink. 

The Seattle Mariners have been a mess at DH ever since they acquired Jose Vidro, a Bavasi era move like everything else he did, did not pan out. 

Currently we have 36-year-old and former 11 time All Star Mike Sweeney holding down the position, along with fan favorite Ken Griffey Jr. 

Those two names may sound great. With two perennial All Stars, how could you go wrong? Except that both, especially Sweeney, are way past their glory days.

At least Griffey can hit, Sweeney just plain stinks.

Both combine for a .241 BA, 19 HR's, and 69 RBI's. Nothing spectacular at all considering Griffey contributes about 2/3 of those HR and RBI totals. 

With Dye on the block, the Mariners should make a move for him. He is an instant upgrade both in numbers, (.262 BA, 25 HR's, 72 RBI's), and in age (35) over the pair of M's DH's. 

The asking price for a 35-year-old slugger will not be steep, a decent prospect or two tops, nothing that will impact the farm system or cripple any development. 

Getting Dye gives them three years of relief at a position they definitely need to address. Read this article for more insight.

He is a proven power threat, unlike Vidro, and unlike Sweeney, this is not to say Griffey wasn't a power threat, one of the best ever. Take a look at Griffey's stats at age 35, and it's around the same Dye is putting up now, 30 HR's, 90-100 RBI's, solid. 

The Mariners have done a good job addressing issues, and building towards the future, DH is one of the problems that needs addressing if this team is going to go from fringe contender to legitimate playoff threat.

Let's take care of it soon, and move onto the next task, maybe a new Catcher?

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