Why So Morbid? Chicago White Sox Should Want More from Jermaine Dye

The Chicago Tribune's nationally respected columnist Phil Rogers wrote a nice article today (Nov. 24) about White Sox General Manager Kenny Williams' consistent willingness to trade anyone, if it's "the right deal."

Shockingly, the American League Central Division Champions are in an apparent frenzy of activity, with any and everyone ready to leave the Windy City if, sorry Bob Barker, the price is right. Closer Bobby Jenks, at the elder statesman age of 27, is apparently being asked for by a number of teams. But the top name the Sox are shopping?

Jermaine Dye?

Dye has been the crown jewel of Williams' All Underachiever approach to building a champion. After Dye's career got caught under the concrete ceiling of talent in Atlanta, he found a lineup to showcase his abilities in Oakland. Unfortunately, that all came crashing to a Joe Theismann halt when he lost a postseason to a gruesome leg injury on a foul ball. 

Oakland decided not to bring him back for 2005, opening the door for Williams to steal him.

Dye signed a two-year contract worth $10.5 million TOTAL before 2005. That season, while making $4 million, Dye hit 31 homers in 145 games before being named World Series Most Valuable Player. In 2006, Dye earned every penny of his $5 million salary. He won the Silver Slugger and was considered a leader for the MVP until the Sox fell apart in August.

After the 2006 season, the Sox rewarded Dye for his two great seasons by picking up a $6 million option. Consider how far the leg injury had taken Dye down the money charts of Major League Baseball: The Athletics had declined a $14 million option for 2005 making him a free agent. For $8 million less than that option, one that he had more than earned in his two seasons in Chicago, Dye was invited back for 2007.

In August of 2007, Dye received an extension from Williams for two years and $22 million. Dye rewarded the Sox faith by having another solid season in 2008, hitting .292 with 32 home runs and 96 runs batted in.

And now Williams is looking to move Dye, if the price is right.

What would be the "right price" for a player who will turn 35 in January? In the free-agent market, if Dye were put up against Adam Dunn, Bobby Abreu, Raul Ibanez, and Pat Burrell, how much would he be worth in a new contract?

Consider how Dye has performed in relation to these four outfielders:

Dunn has averaged 40 home runs, 99 runs batted in and 172 strikeouts per season. He will be 29 years old for the 2009 season. 

Abreu has averaged 18 home runs, 102 runs batted in and 124 strikeouts per season. He will also be 35 years old in 2009.

Ibanez, the oldest of the group at 36 (until June), has averaged 24 home runs and 106 runs batted in, mixed with 105 strikeouts.

Burrell, the recent champion from Philadelphia, has posted 31 home runs and 98 runs batted in, while whiffing 136 times per season.

Dye has averaged 34 home runs, 95 runs batted in, and 107 strikeouts. At 35 years old, he'll make $11.5 million in 2009, a walk year unless the Sox pick up a $12 million mutual option for 2010.

None of these players has what would be considered "good" range in the outfield, and each has a fairly strong arm (though Ibanez needs to work on his aim).

However, consider the experience and clutch factors. Dunn, Abreu, and Ibanez have limited (if any) postseason experience from which to draw. Burrell, hindered by injuries in 2008, has a career postseason batting average of .218 in 17 games. Dye, on the other hand, has hit .270 in 44 games and has the elusive World Series MVP at home.

On a club with the potential for another competitive season, why would Williams want to move a right fielder who has been the Sox lone consistent offensive force for the past five seasons?

Is the Sox faith in Carlos Quentin and his career of 268 games justified long term? Quentin hasn't played in more than 130 games in a season, which he did in 2008. The White Sox also have a huge void in center field, where prospects Jerry Owens and Brian Anderson have started alternating being the Disappointment of the Month.

I can't help but wonder how the Sox proposed to replace Dye's leadership on the field. With Nick Swisher sent packing to the Yankees (and good riddance), the Sox have a very thin outfield to start with in 2009. Taking Dye out of the mix could be costly.

But, as Rogers pointed out in his article, Williams has a history of find the right price no matter who he was trading. Quentin was acquired for a low level prospect last year, as was Gavin Floyd. John Danks came to Chicago as part of the Brandon McCarthy trade with the Rangers, who surely miss Danks' health and production.

I can question Williams' motives and the players named in rumors, but I can't fight his track record. We'll see what he does this winter. Personally, I hope Dye's back on the South Side in 2009.