He gone: White Sox let Jermaine Dye go free
The Jermaine Dye Era has all but come to an end on the South Side.
The White Sox announced on Friday morning that that they bought out the 2010 mutual option on the right fielder, paying him $950,000 rather than picking up the $12 million for the upcoming season. The move makes it so that Dye will now become a free agent.
(AP)
Dye’s hope throughout the season was that the club would offer him an extension, but a dismal second half in which he hit .179 with just seven homers seemed to seal his fate. Acquiring Alex Rios at the end of August also put the writing on the wall for the 35-year-old Dye that his five-year stay was just about over.
But what a five years it was for Dye.
He not only hit .278 with a 164 homers and 461 RBI over that span, but was named Most Valuable Player of the 2005 World Series, leading the Sox to their first title in 88 years.
As far as where he will end up, Texas has had Dye in their crosshairs for a few years, while Dye wouldn’t rule out Boston, despite the fact that they were initially one of six teams listed on his no-trade clause.
The club had no further comment on the pending Chris Getz, Josh Fields for Mark Teahen trade, but a source said that the holdup on the deal being finalized has to do with money. Teahen earned $3.75 million last season with a raise coming.
Both the Royals and Sox feel like the deal will be done, but for now the staring contest continues.