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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
131 comments Add your comment
Hank44
February 23rd, 2010
5:17 pm
Crede might not fit because of limited spots, but I’d sure like him in there somewhere.
bvillebaron
February 23rd, 2010
5:21 pm
Sign Dye? In a word: NO!
Joey M
February 23rd, 2010
5:31 pm
We are done signing veterans. We have enough of them. Out outfield is set. Worst case scenario is Heyward stays in Gwinnett till June. We have an outfield with Diaz, Cabrera, McLouth, Hinske, and Schafer. There will be some platooning and lineup changes. The infield is as fine as health goes. Chipper is a trip over the ottoman away from becoming an insurance reimbursement. Glaus is hit & miss. He can either hit 30+ and drive in 100+ or he is released mid-season and we bring up Freeman. This is not a fair sendoff to Bobby Cox. But it is what it is. The best Liberty Media is willing to do for it’s fans.
Space Monkey
February 23rd, 2010
5:39 pm
Smoltz. It kills me to see him in another uni.
DamYankee
February 23rd, 2010
5:48 pm
Viginia Brave:
Dye: .250 Avg. .340 OBP, .453 SLG, .826 OPS, 27 HR, 81 RBI in 503 AB’s
Damon: .282, .365, .489, .854, 24, 82 in 550 AB’s
Diaz: .313, .390, .488, .878, 13, 58 in 371 AB’s
IMO, the Braves already have the better hitter, get him 500+ AB’s, sit back & watch the fun!
Raymond Crabtree
February 23rd, 2010
6:52 pm
I don’t see where it makes any difference. Why not see if Bob Horner is available. Why not Murph or even Bartkowski. Anyone but the whiffers we had last year.
Dan Schlossberg
February 23rd, 2010
10:17 pm
Hank Blalock is 29, plays both infield corners, and is still unsigned? Is Frank Wren waiting for an engraved invitation?
trainman
February 24th, 2010
12:18 am
Lineup: Nate (cf), Martin (2b), Chipper (3b), Tony (1b), Mac (c), Escobar (ss), Matt (lf), The Hulk (rf), Pitcher. Play Ball. And keep the Hulk from McDonough here in Atlanta. Rather have him hit .250 and 15 homers than over the hill options discussed here (Dye, etc.).
Joe
February 24th, 2010
1:17 am
Yes this braves should sign Jermaine Dye he can provide the team with some power in the outfield and he don’t have to play everyday he can platoon with Eric Hinske.
Kevlar
February 24th, 2010
2:35 am
Yes. Worthwhile for $3.5M. Could easily hit 30 homeruns. $3.5M can’t get you a waterboy these days in MLB.
TommyJack
February 24th, 2010
8:11 am
No former braves. No sirree.
Barnacle Bill Bavasi
February 24th, 2010
8:43 am
Yeah, what is the deal with Hank Blaylock? Is he a butthole, injured, what? Why is he still available?
bruce
February 24th, 2010
9:05 am
I only see moves to add if we have another injury…. diory’s injury is probably covered with existing backup capability. While we may have bullpen depth to offer, I hope we do not do that.
JC
February 24th, 2010
9:41 am
Im concerned that nobody is giving Melky a chance. The guy played in NY and was the 8the best player on an ALL-STAR team. That is nothing to be ashamed about! And do we really want another outfielder hitting .250 (Dye)? I think Shafer will prove he is ready to be in the majors and he will make the team out of spring because of his speed and what he may be able to bring to the top of the lineup. Plus, I really like alot of the talent we have in the outfield, especially at the minor league level. I really liked what Brooks Conrad brought to the table last year. Showed alot of determination for a pretty inexperienced guy.
JC
February 24th, 2010
9:55 am
Plus, 32 homers from a 20 year old (Cody Johnson) out of A ball last year. We are putting so much pressure on another 20 year old, with little experience over A ball. Who’s to say that this guy wont be ready in another year or two? I think McLouth will return to All-Star form this year, Diaz will be Diaz, and Melky will be better than you think. Let Heyward progress! He will be great but do we need him great on opening day? I dont think so!
FSU FOOTBALL #1
February 24th, 2010
10:01 am
I like the idea of signing Dye if not him Blaylock. People who is still dogging Melky give him a chance its not his fault he is hear and dont need to be critized like this.
JeanE
February 24th, 2010
10:16 am
Jeff, I usually like your stuff but lately, you seem desperate to stir something up. Here’s my take on your attempt to stir interest in yet another washed up hasbeen player: NO NO NO NO NO. That emphatic enough? We have no need for another veteran past his prime player who will eat up salary. We are fine as is, we have some versatile players and Mac will be back, I think Chipper will resurrect himself for Bobby’s last year, Nate can SEE (who knew he couldn’t, not me) and Diaz will be back to Captain Caveman as usual. Go Braves!
Furman Bisher
February 24th, 2010
12:57 pm
“I considered Damon more important because I thought — and still think — the leadoff position in this lineup is more important than adding power.” -Schultz
This is documented proof that you really didn’t see a lot of Braves games the last two years. Do you work in the Sports department?
Also, has anybody seen my bedpan?!
Bravesfan36
February 24th, 2010
1:10 pm
No I don’t think we need to add anyone else. I feel we need to give Shafer another chance, if he proves he is ready in spring training. I think Shafer can match the defense in certerfield of McClouth, plus Shafer also has a much better arm. If Shafer proves he is not ready then Diaz and Melky can definitely fill the LF roll just as well as anyone availble. I know a lot of people have given up on Shafer, but you can tell the kid is a ballplayer. He let his enthusasm outweigh any common sense he had. In my opinion I think our best outfield would be McClouth LF, Shafer CF, and Heyward RF. How many times did people watch a game last year and wonder why McClouth did not make throws. Then when he did we knew why. He did not have the arm to make the throws. He is a much better fit in LF due to his arm strength. Like I said, this is my opinion and what I would like to see. I know it probably will not happen this year, I just hope we don’t give up on Shafer and trade him.
Ted Striker
February 24th, 2010
2:20 pm
Barnacle Bill — Just saw your comment. Wish I’d been there. Send me a postcard, or at least some video from your iPhone.
Mark
February 24th, 2010
2:57 pm
Dye and Sheffield have the potential pop that could help the Braves. I’m sorry but you can’t argue that Glaus is any better of a pickup than one of these 2 IF they will come at a substantially lower salary than they are used to making.
Those of you expecting Heyward to come in and hit .290/25/85 are dreaming. Their is absolutely no rush to bring this kid up. It’s not like it’s now or never with this kid. It’s not as if he is the missing piece to a championship team.
Mark
February 24th, 2010
2:59 pm
This team needs a bonified ML slugger to compete and they didn’t get one. Heyward is not goint to be the 30/100 guy this team desperately needs. Not as a rookie at least.
Brian
February 24th, 2010
3:40 pm
Whole article without one mention of the reason he is not signed: he can’t play defense. Even if he hits 25 HR, his defense will be so bad that he will still make the team worse. Teams know this, and that’s why he hasn’t been signed. The Braves don’t have an open DH spot.
ugaaccountant
February 24th, 2010
4:51 pm
absolutely not. He was one of the worst players in baseball the second half of 2009. At his age, it’s unlikely he improves.
Marvin Mangrum
February 24th, 2010
5:11 pm
You know, years ago we to Florida to see the Braves in spring training, they had a right field candidate, do think it was Jermaine Dye, during bp he hit balls that sounded like a cannon going off, each one just flew out. Then it seems he made the team. Then weeks later twas an article about him living in the center fielders house till he got his own house. He was gone within 10 days. Since that time I do not believe that all the Braves, I said all of the Braves outfielders have hit as many homers as him. I have this trade Bobby, or is that boobie, then get Mr Dye before he dies of old age. Yeah, dats my Braves, Frank Wren old GM at Baltimore, yeah, yeah all those championships. Yeah, yeah! If you believe in this bunch to win, God help you.
MitchC
February 24th, 2010
5:51 pm
I”d try Rocco Badelli. Yes, he had injury issues last year, but, he’s not that old, and has good power. The Braves can use another power bat in the lineup. Our starting pitching and bullpen seem to be set. Why not take a shot at spending a few mil on someone in the one area we need, power hitting?
jojo
February 25th, 2010
4:45 pm
I think we are set with position players, I am more concerned with back up starting pitching. Maybe Washburn or Smoltz for no more than 2 -2 1/2 mil for one year. It does not appear that there is a long line to sign either.
01HAWK
February 25th, 2010
4:47 pm
BRAVES will finish 3rd or 4th. No money to compete. Chipper needs to reture, PHILLIES win again
Navigator
March 13th, 2010
9:25 am
They can’t get Jermaine Dye, are you kidding, BCox got rid of the talentless outfielder for some old has been, so the Braves can’t bring him back. That would be admitting they were stupid in the first place!!! They can find some old cast off and res-erect their career and be BCox’s new star, platooning him with some other has been or never will be. Am I the only one that can’t wait to see his retirement from the Braves. I know he’s one of the greatest managers of all time, yeah and Casey Stengel was a bum, Not!!!
ET
March 13th, 2010
11:55 am
This blog shows why you can’t run a team by referendum. There are too many ill informed fans out there. Glaus has torn up the spring season so far. He is batting .750 and hitting the ball hard. A slight (Millimeters) adjustment in his swing and the ball will fly out of the ball park…yet posters say that is our weak spot on the roster? Really? Glaus was an all star at third base. So he had surgery last year and had to recover…so what? This guy can hit. Plus the adjustment from being an all star third baseman to an all star first baseman isn’t as difficult as you guys think it is. When you look back at this season you will see that worrying about Glaus was just wasted energy…trust me.
Plus the posters who keep saying that the Braves are a losing organization simply don’t know history. Most teams would sell their souls to be the team that has the 14 year streak of winning their division. No other team in any pro sport can claim that honor expect the Braves. If you guys don’t like the Braves or how they are run, then I suggest you go root for another team…say maybe the Pirates or the Giants…just get the heck out of here.
Go Braves (& thanks Mr. Wren)
Lol at ET
April 26th, 2010
6:00 am
LOL at Glaus tearing it up in Spring Training. Glaus sucks.. The outfield sucks too. I want Dye.