Jermaine Dye wants to play this year

The Rays need a consistent DH in the middle of the lineup and a few names are floating out there during the off season. One name that has suddenly appeared on the market is Jermaine Dye. Dye, now 36, has stated he wants to play this season and has already been contacted by several teams, including the Rays.

Dye sat out all of the 2009 season after being offered a minor league contract with the Cubs. Dye’s last season with the White Sox he hit .250 and slugged 27 home runs. Dye has always been a good outfielder in his time, but with age, he will primarily be a DH for any club he signs with. His bat speed is also slowing down and his batting average has slumped over the past few seasons, but he is still a powerful hitter (27 home runs in 2009, more than most of the Rays players combined).

I have mixed feeling about this signing if the Rays actually did pursue it. Dye is older now and his bat and average are slipping. The Rays need a youthful player that has power and for a low price. The Rays might be able to sign Dye for a very low price and may even begin his season in the minors (sat out last season). I just have mixed feelings about this idea for the Rays. If they are able to sign him for a very, very low cost, then they should go ahead with the move and see what they can’t get out of the veteran.