Should Jermaine Dye be on Braves’ radar?
Jermaine Dye still has power and isn't ready to say goodbye yet.
The other day, in the aftermath of Johnny Damon’s decision to sign with the Detroit Tigers, we asked you to pick your favorite for the Braves’ leadoff hitter. Your overwhelming choice was Nate McLouth (49 percent), who finished just slightly ahead of my outside-the-box pick of Yunel Escobar (13 percent).
I’m leaving the poll open in case there’s a late run on Escobar votes. I hear the polls never close in Havana.
Today, we go in a different direction. Many of you do not feel comfortable with this Braves team, primarily because of the seeming lack of offense and trades like Javier Vazquez-for-Melky Cabrera.
The chances of another trade at this point are relatively non-existent. But there’s a significant number of unsigned veterans still on the market. Do I think Frank Wren will sign one? No, not for some time anyway. Damon was his one shot, and even then Wren wanted him only at discount.
But with spring training now open, there are still several free agents left on the market. The most intriguing name out there from a Braves’ perspective probably is Jermaine Dye. Many of you have pushed for Dye’s signing in the past. I considered Damon more important because I thought — and still think — the leadoff position in this lineup is more important than adding power.
That said, Dye is still out there. The Chicago White Sox considered bringing him back but ironically, are hoping two ex-Braves, Andruw Jones and Mark Kotsay, can fill the offensive void at designated hitter and in the outfield. They bought out Dye for $950,000 rather than pick up a $12 million option.
But even White Sox general manager Kenny Williams said, “I am shocked that Jermaine Dye is still out there. Somebody is going to get a [heck] of a player.”
Dye played 141 games last season. He hit only .250 but he showed he still has power (27 homers, .453 slugging percentage, .793 OPS).
If Dye doesn’t do it for you, there are several ex Braves still unsigned, including Gary Sheffield, Garrett Anderson, Paul Bako, John Smoltz and Russ Springer.
Or how about Mike Hampton? (That was a joke.)
Below is the list of unsigned players. All have obvious issues (age, injury, declining production, combination thereof.).
What do you think of Dye? Or should the Braves just stand pat for now and see how things develop?
♦
UPDATE: Not that’s we’ve discussed Aaron Boone, but he just retired and will join ESPN as an on-air analyst.♦
Outfielders Pos. Age Last Team Garret Anderson LF 37 Atlanta Rocco Baldelli RF 28 Boston Darin Erstad LF 35 Houston Jermaine Dye RF 36 Chicago Sox Gary Sheffield LF 41 NY Mets
♦ Infielders Pos. Age Last Team Rich Aurilia 1B 38 San Francisco Hank Blalock 1B 29 Texas Joe Crede 3B 31 Minnesota Carlos Delgado 1B 37 NY Mets Nomar Garciaparra 1B 36 Oakland Felipe Lopez 2B 29 Milwaukee Ramon Martinez SS 37 NY Mets Dmitri Young 1B 36 Washington
♦ Catchers Pos. Age Last Team Paul Bako C 37 Philadelphia Rod Barajas C 34 Toronto Shawn Riggans C 29 Tampa Bay ♦ Pitchers Pos. Age Last team Joe Beimel RP 32 Colorado Chad Bradford RP 35 Tampa Bay Paul Byrd SP 39 Boston Kiko Calero RP 35 Florida Chad Fox RP 39 Chicago Cubs Mike Hampton SP 37 Houston Livan Hernandez SP 35 Washington Jason Isringhausen RP 37 Tampa Bay Braden Looper SP 35 Milwaukee Alan Embree RP 40 Colorado Ron Mahay RP 38 Minnesota Pedro Martinez SP 38 Philadelphia Eric Milton SP 34 LA Dodgers Tomo Ohka SP 33 Cleveland Troy Percival RP 40 Tampa Bay John Smoltz SP 42 St. Louis Russ Springer RP 41 Tampa Bay Brett Tomko SP 36 Oakland Jarrod Washburn SP 35 Detroit David Weathers RP 40 Milwaukee
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131 comments Add your comment
F-105 Thunderchief
February 23rd, 2010
3:14 pm
Yes, what the heck can it hurt? He’s not going to cost a lot and still has some pop.
Bobby Cox
February 23rd, 2010
3:17 pm
Gee, Skip. I hear Raul Mondesi has been tearing up the Barbados/Aruba Winter League. Maybe Frank can give him a call. Duh.
Clay
February 23rd, 2010
3:18 pm
I’m with you on Damon, Aundray Bruce’s Mother, but wish Schafer would have told the Braves about the injury right away. Instead, all we can remember about his stint last year is that he looked as silly as Frenchy waving at low-and-outside pitches.
Branch Rickey
February 23rd, 2010
3:20 pm
Dye or Damon would only impede the progress of Heyward and Schafer. Lets play the guys with some UPSIDE for once ! Enough of the old, washed-up hasbeens that Bobby Cox likes to surround himself with !
Frank Wren
February 23rd, 2010
3:20 pm
Gee, Skip. I hear Raul Mondesi has been tearing up the Barbados/Aruba Winter League. Maybe Frank can give him a call. Duh.
Sorry, Bobby. He’d wreck the budget.
bali
February 23rd, 2010
3:24 pm
maybe dye would be the dymond in the rough and propell the braves to new heights.. nah……………me thinks it will be a long long season………… bet the braves lead the league with players on the injured list tho
Jesse Stone
February 23rd, 2010
3:26 pm
Clay, Don’t judge a pitcher by the number of wins he got. That number is misleading.
Whatever
February 23rd, 2010
3:28 pm
Braves ain’t gonna do squat, period. They made a half-ass offer to Damon just so they could tell their fans: We tried to get Damon. We are trying to make our ball-club better. Whatever!
Jesse Stone
February 23rd, 2010
3:29 pm
A 4.67 ERA and a WHIP over 1.5 are more telling of the year he had. He may have also led the league in hits allowed.
Steve
February 23rd, 2010
3:29 pm
Got to hand it to the sports writers for the AJC, they sur know how to stir up the pot with absolute idiocy. Sadly, it works judging by most of the posters.
As ‘Fed Up’ noted, this was not a Vazquez for Melky trade. You can look at it one of two ways considering the money savings. It was either:
1) Vazquez and Logan for Hudson, Cabrera, Dunn, Vizcaino. This trade is basically what it worked out to be.
or
2) If you don’t think you can include the Hudson part because the money for Hudson was already spent, then you have to then admit that the monetary savings from the trade allowed us to sign Glaus and Hinske. Thus making the trade Vazquez and Logan for Glaus, Hinske, Cabrera, Dunn, and Viscaino.
Simply calling it a Vazquez for Melky trade like Schultzie did is ridiculous. Even worse, falling for Schultzie’s bait shows just how ignorant of baseball most of the people on this board are. I pity you, I really do.
I haven’t even addressed the part that the Braves were going to trade Vazquez for much less mid-season, or lose him to free agency and get nothing back (they would not have tendered, so no draft picks). Seriously people, even if Vazquez pitches lights out it was still a good move given our depth in the rotation and all the holes elsewhere. Add to this the fact that Vazquez career numbers are a run per game higher than last year and he likely won’t come close to repeating that, and you have a great trade. This will be like when the Braves decided not to keep Avery, Mercker, Moss, Chen, Perez and a host of other pitchers around that everyone thought were going to be great. The Braves have made mostly great decisions in the last two decades when it comes to pitching, and I believe by mid-season people will be glad this trade was made. They should already be glad if they could learn to think for themselves and not clamp down on the bait these AJC writers keep throwing them. So sad.
Walker, Texas Ranger
February 23rd, 2010
3:32 pm
get Dye or Shefield? Trade Melkey, I agree with the post earlier, Braves don’t know their a$$ from a hole in the ground.
VirginiaBrave
February 23rd, 2010
3:33 pm
Folks, It would not surprise me to see an opening day outfield of Schafer in left, McLouth in center, and Heyward in right…If Schafer has reacquired the swing he lost while trying to play through the wrist problem, he may be hard to keep out of the lineup, only time and spring training will settle the issue…Patience, friends, patience
Tailback U
February 23rd, 2010
3:34 pm
Felt we should have reaquired him some time back.
Not sure that it’s an idea whose time is past but
hey , I don’t think we run the risk of screwing up
a champiomship lineup by giving it a try.
Frank Wren's Conscience
February 23rd, 2010
3:34 pm
My, God ! I’ve tied up ONE-THIRD (29 million) of the 2010 team payroll in washed-up hasbeens like Derek Lowe & Chipper Jones, paying them salaries that premier players get. No wonder I have nothing left to spend to improve the team !
SMH
February 23rd, 2010
3:35 pm
We don’t need 156 outfielders. Let Heyward play!
VirginiaBrave
February 23rd, 2010
3:39 pm
I am not at a place to have statistics available…someone please show me the comparisons between Damon, Dye, and Diaz..Last years figures.thanks
GetwhatUpayfor
February 23rd, 2010
3:39 pm
No to Dye and the rest of the free agents.No to Schafer until after he plays AAA ball for a while. He has only played 3 months out of two years and needs time on Farm.
If we get a power hitter it will be by a trade. Never happy until maybe July.
Otis Nixon
February 23rd, 2010
3:40 pm
PUT ME IN (sniff), I’LL LIGHT THAT A$$ UP!!!!!!
MLH
February 23rd, 2010
3:41 pm
I’ve never seen so many baseball ignorant posts in my life. And that’s including the actual blog.
.
February 23rd, 2010
3:42 pm
Neither do you Ranger!
Clay
February 23rd, 2010
3:42 pm
That’s my point. An off year, yet he won 15 games. Maybe I’m old school, but if my 5 starters win 15 games each, I make the playoffs. I don’t care what their ERAs are. Just win, baby.
Town Character Art Leo
February 23rd, 2010
3:45 pm
Jeff, the trade you consistently refer to as “Vasquez for Melky Cabrera” is actually more than that, as you know. The key for the Braves was the young pitcher they received from New York. It won’t help the Braves this year, but stop making it sound like all the Braves received in the trade is the regretably nicknamed “Melkman”.
matt r
February 23rd, 2010
3:51 pm
I hear the polls never *open in Havana.
There, fixed for you.
Ted Striker
February 23rd, 2010
3:55 pm
Is Dye still playing, man? If he is, heck yeah…give him a shot. For that matter, give those 2 coeds I ran into at lunch at 5 Points Deli at shot at me later tonight.
Woot!
John
February 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm
I really think 1B is where we have the biggest whole. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t think Glaus is going to bring much offensively, and definately not defensively. By the end of the year, I bet Prado is playing first, with Infante at second.
collegeballfan
February 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm
Hold off for now & lets see what Heyward & others do.
John
February 23rd, 2010
4:02 pm
What I was trying to say two posts up is that we do not need to sign any outfielders. We have enough with McLouth, Diaz, Cabrera, Heyward, and Schaeffer. I think we will be wishing Wren had resigned LaRoche.
mn possum
February 23rd, 2010
4:02 pm
Since we are dealing with former Braves and “older” players, let’s bring back Ralph Garr.
John
February 23rd, 2010
4:12 pm
How about taking a chance on Dmitri Young ? He had a heck of a year a couple years back, I know he had some health problems, but could be a good risk if he signs a minor league contract.
John L
February 23rd, 2010
4:17 pm
That 4.12 post should have read John L
cliff clavin
February 23rd, 2010
4:18 pm
It’s a little know fact . . . but Mike Hampton was up for the part in the movie “Unbreakable” but they gave it to Samuel L. Jackson.
angry banker
February 23rd, 2010
4:19 pm
Think we already made the move to bring in a vet OF w/ Cabrera. Don’t think we need a 2nd unless they want someone to platoon with Diaz. They did that last year with G.A., and Diaz outplayed him. Should be fine assuming either Schaffer or Heyward pan out for this year.
LETS GET SOME HELP AT FIRST!! Glaus is a patch at best. Injury prone and not that great at DEF. We’ll need someone to back him up through the year.
I agree with John, we’ll probably wind up with Prado at first by the end of year… maybe the all-star break
VirginiaBrave
February 23rd, 2010
4:25 pm
angry banker,,I will have to give you that how Glaus will play defense at 1st is yet to be determined…but look at his 3rd base defense…almost, if not, gold glove..if he can do it on that side, he can do it on the other..if you are an athlete, you can play different positions…and being a patch, yes…that is what he was signed for..to be a patch until Freeman is ready..and we have Hinske to back him up..Just wait…I would bet that all these negative posts, before these players have a chance to show what they can (or cannot) do, will be eating some of these words…..
Gil Garrido
February 23rd, 2010
4:26 pm
Perhaps Julio Franco is still available. That dude could hit. And by the end of April, when Kelly is released, we can pick him back up and start him at second, relegating Prado to the bench. I also hear Jeff Burroughs is interested in a comeback. He’s probably 55 or so, but he had power twenty years ago. Or, hey, here’s an idea: What’s Murph doing these days?
JMar
February 23rd, 2010
4:27 pm
This article completely fails to acknowledge that Jermaine Dye is a Type A free agent that would cost a draft pick.
Jeff Walker
February 23rd, 2010
4:28 pm
Only sign Dye if we can move our 4th outfielder that makes $3.1M (Melky). What kind of mid market team with a sub-$100M payroll can afford a weak hitting 4th outfielder at that price? Trade him and then you can sign Dye
Jeff Walker
February 23rd, 2010
4:29 pm
JMAR: Dye wasn’t not offered arbitration if im thinking right. Why would the chi sox decline his $12M option, and then offer arbitration? I don’t think you checked your facts
BobL
February 23rd, 2010
4:30 pm
Heck yes. We never should have let him go!
VirginiaBrave
February 23rd, 2010
4:44 pm
Check Dye,s defense…another Garrett Anderson, and that is only if he is capable of playing left…no way would Dye beat out Heyward, defensively or offensively, We need to think before we type…would we be better off with Dye in left rather than Diaz/Cabera…somehow I do not think so..Cabera has speed and better deense, and his batting average is higher. not as much power, but will not give up the runs either…Diaz, wow, look at his average last year..and defense is quite adequate..either of these options alone is better than Dye, just not as much power…
Chris
February 23rd, 2010
4:45 pm
Hmm…an over-the-hill no defense OF who we’d sign on a one-year deal in order to bolster the middle of the lineup.
Because it worked so well last year.
JAXBrave
February 23rd, 2010
4:46 pm
Go get Felipe Lopez. He can play three infield spots well and is a solid bat. Also, get Hank Blalock some left handed pop is what we need. Isn’t that the reason that we traded for LaRoche last year and then turn around and sign right-handed hitting Troy Glaus? If you ask me Frank Wren should take a big shot of RETIREMENT.
N
February 23rd, 2010
4:46 pm
I feel comfortable with this Team and am not so worried about the offense as some. Sure feel a lot better with the offense then a year ago. Javier trade doesn’t bother me, I liked it, made a lot of sense when Vasquez was in his last year.
N
February 23rd, 2010
4:49 pm
We Signed Glaus because we badly needed a right handed power hitter, not Left handed. Our lineup is full of left handed hitters.
N
February 23rd, 2010
4:51 pm
Yep, sure did work well last year, I’m glad we had Anderson in left and average production as opposed to the other options, namely Frenchy or Schaefer.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
February 23rd, 2010
4:53 pm
Ted, Olde Towne Tavern in Kennesaw on Saturday. Still thinking about her today. Yowsa!
Hank44
February 23rd, 2010
5:04 pm
Dye no, Smoltz yes and Crede would be a good bat off the bench and could play the field and is actually fairly young at 31.
Nathan Mayer
February 23rd, 2010
5:04 pm
Forget Dye, I can’t believe Pedro Martinez is still out there. He didn’t look great in cold weather but his stuff looked filthy last year.
180 innings, 3.3 ERA all for $3 million. That makes the Lowe deal look like a disaster.
N
February 23rd, 2010
5:15 pm
Where would Crede fit. You only get 25 spots. Means you have to drop someone like Infante, Hinske or leave Heyward down on the farm. I’d like Crede too but the spots seem to be filled, barring injury.
Hank44
February 23rd, 2010
5:16 pm
Smoltz needs to go out as a Brave and eventually we will need him and can use him this season in some capacity.
N
February 23rd, 2010
5:16 pm
Same reason Pedro was available a year ago probably, he is holding out for too much money.