Jermaine Dye Will Decide His Own Fate
Outfielder struggled in 2007 amidst trade talks
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Jermaine Dye will make his own fate on the south side this season.
If it's supposed to be a secret, Kenny Williams and the White Sox are doing a horrible job of hiding it from the public. Everyone is aware of the fact that if the White Sox get off to a slow start this season, Jermaine Dye will probably be the first player to go when Williams starts wheeling and dealing this summer. He's entering the final year of a two-year deal, though there is a team option for a third year, and he's the only high-priced veteran on the team without a no-trade clause.
Jim Thome and Paul Konerko can veto any possible trade they're involved in, while Dye's no-trade list is limited to six teams, leaving Williams with 25 other teams he can work with. Jermaine is as much aware of this as anybody.
''Definitely [I'm first to go], and that's with any team,'' Dye said. ''I understand that, and if I get called in with [general manager] Kenny [Williams] and have that talk, that's what I do. Hopefully, we won't even be put into that situation, and everything goes as smoothly as it can go. Hopefully, we're the team that's there in October, playing for the World Series.''
Dye also made sure to point out he'd love to stay here in Chicago and retire here, and that he's just going to have to deal with the constant rumors. Something that is easier said than done.
Back in 2007 when Dye was going through the same exact thing before signing an extension, he was struggling. Whether he was conscious of it or not, he had withdrawn himself from his teammates and he struggled at the plate. He hit only .254 with 28 home runs and 78RBI that season -- the lowest numbers he's had in all three categories since joining the White Sox in 2005.
Not so coincidentally Dye's hitting improved after signing the extension on August 18th, hitting .293 with four homers and 15RBI down the stretch while playing injured no less. So it could be said that Dye's attitude and ability to deal with the rumors could determine his own fate. Handle them and play well, the White Sox will play well and Jermaine will stay. Let them become a distraction then the White Sox sink, and send Dye packing.
Along with writing for NBCCHICAGO.com, Tom Fornelli can be found contributing at FanHouse, SPORTSbyBROOKS, and his own Chicago sports blog Foul Balls. He also thinks Jermaine Dye may be the most under-appreciated player in Chicago baseball history
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Posted Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 - 6:37 PM CST
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