Chiacgo Cubs Recap: Jermaine Dye or Jonny Gomes?

I finally decided to start writing some Chicago Cubs articles again for Bleacher Report. Since my absence on B/R, the Cubs disappointed me and the rest of Cub Nation by finishing in second place and losing the division for the first time in three years to their arch-enemy St. Louis Cardinals (every time I mention that team, it feels like I'm mentioning one of history's evil men, like Hitler. Yes, I did just compare the St. Louis Cardinals to Adolf Hitler).

Also, Milton Bradley was traded away (one of the few times that Jim Hendry will admit a mistake *cough* should have kept DeRosa! *cough*), Marlon Byrd has been signed to patrol center field, and Kosuke is moving back to his natural position of right field. Ted Lilly underwent shoulder surgery and will likely miss the first month of the season for the North Siders. Oh, and the Ricketts finally took control of the team.  

But overall, it's been another forgettable offseason up to this point. Next on Hendry's agenda is to sign a fourth outfielder. He's all but dismissed bringing back Reed Johnson, so who's out there in free agency that A) fits the Cubs' budget and B) wants to play for Chicago?

Two names that have been brought to my attention recently are Jermaine Dye and Jonny Gomes. All Chicago sports fans are familiar with Jermaine Dye, the 2005 World Series MVP. Dye is decent corner outfielder and typically a man who swings a big bat, but let's not kid ourselves. He is coming off of a season in which he only hit .250, which is not one of his better years. He's also going to turn 36 years old this week. What I'm trying to say is that Dye is certainly past his prime.

However, Gomes isn't exactly tearing up major league pitching. Granted, he hit .267 this last season. But that was only in 281 at bats. Let's look at his career average of .241, or how about 2008? He hit .182 and registered just 154 at bats. The last time Dye had less than 500 at bats was way back in 2003 when he was playing in Oakland.

Neither one is exactly somebody who's going to make me jump up and down when I get the email that Chicago has signed one of them. 

Gomes is certainly attractive to the Cubs, though, because he's not looking for a starting position, he's not looking for a lot of money, and he's perfectly content with getting a one-year deal. Dye was looking for starting time, somewhere around what he's been getting paid (about $10 million), and he wanted a multi-year deal. However, with the way that free agency has gone thus far for Dye, it would appear that he may be willing to settle on some/all of these conditions. 

So who will it be? Dye or Gomes? Jim Hendry should be choosing his (the cheapest) option within the next few weeks.