Josh Cribbs Contract Extension Looming
February 8, 2010Ohio State Handles Business Against Iowa
February 8, 2010As the Cleveland Indians continue to avoid the MLB free agency period to the best of their abilities, Terry Pluto of The Plain Dealer reported this weekend that Mark Shapiro has his eye on veteran outfielder Jermaine Dye.
The 36-year old Dye is a right-handed bat, something that the Indians have been looking for all off-season. The two main issues in Dye’s game (three, if you choose to count his age) are the fact that he regressed mightily during the second half of last season and has diminishing skills in the outfield. Considering that the Indians have one of the younger, quicker outfields in the American League, adding Dye to the mix would not help keep opposing runs off of the board. Pluto did hint that the Indians could use Dye’s services at first base to give Matt LaPorta a break or would provide a compliment to Travis Hafner in the event that his shoulder is not up to par.
Despite hitting over 25 home runs in each of the last five seasons, 2009 saw a considerable drop in Dye’s batting average. Hitting .292 in 2008, Dye hit at a .250 clip last season thanks to .179/.293/.297 after the All-Star break. As a saving grace, Dye’s BABIP was a very unlucky .195, so there may be some potential for a rebound. The bigger hurdle will likely come in the form of the actual contract as the Indians are looking for a one-year deal or one of a minor league contract with an invite to camp. Unless Dye were to get zero offers between now and the start of camp (13 days until pitchers and catcher report), it would be fairly unlikely that a guy who was among the MVP voting twice in the last four years would settle for a minor league deal with a rebuilding franchise.
Other names that Pluto mentioned were former Indians slugger/third baseman Russell Branyan and outfielder Jonny Gomes. Names like Jon Garland and Orlando Hudson were considered, but the team does not have room for an additional $5 million within their budget. It should also be noted that the Indians will likely enter 2010 with the lowest payroll in the AL Central with $65 million, coming in $15 million shy of the Kansas City Royals who will have $80 million on their books.
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21 Comments
…”or would provide a compliment to Travis Hafner in the event that his shoulder is not up to par.”
Read: We need insurance, because Hafner’s a bust.
13 days!
you know I used to be excited about training camp starting, but right now not so much
A worthwhile prospect if we’ve got the money. The dude COULD play 1st or DH, and he can still smack the ball, and he knows the division plenty well. But we’re broke. So eh.
Where would the $65 million rank among the rest of the AL? Entire MLB?
What is the differnce between Dye and Thome? At least Thome would have filled some seats.
Wouldn’t be surprised if Shapiro gets tired of this dumpster diving and tries to get out soon and join one of the mid-market teams that are actually spending money and trying to win now. This is just another predictable attempted haymaker, trying to get something out of old, probably washed up guys who bite on short contracts so that Shapiro can trade for more cheapie prospects come trade deadline. Dye = this year’s Pavano.
I’m predicting it now: with the amount the Dolans owe him this year, Grady might not be in a Tribe uni by August. They are so strapped they need to dump everything tradeable that’s making much more than the minimum.
@Moose: Dye’s at least capable of standing in the outfield and catching things hit withing 10 feet of him. I’m not sure Thome can actually move anything but his arms anymore.
This is sad. I hope the NBA season never ends. This summer will bring lots of misery.
“Where would the $65 million rank among the rest of the AL?”
Only Oakland is lower than Cleveland right now.
Moose, Thome is a lefty and Dye is a righty. For some reason that is important in baseball. I think there are only so many lefty gloves given to each team or something.
Considering what we have done–or not done–during the off season—it is 50/50 that we lose 100 games this season…
Er wait, doesn’t Thome throw righty? I think I screwed up my joke. I think there are only so many lefty ‘bats’ given to each team or something. Much better.
the White Sox sign OUR old degrading players who are nothing like what they used to be….not the other way around.
speaking of which…
http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/mlb/news/story?id=4897287
Unless Dye plays for meal money how in the world can the Indians afford him? That and the fact that Dye makes sense for the anemic lineup the Indians will have means he won’t be signing probably.
This is a serious request for the Indians to move away from Cleveland. Please.
Let’s Go Yankees…
I recall (possibly wrongly but I think rightly) that Dye hits Indians pitching quite well. Maybe we fare better against the White Sox with him on our squad, and that’s of at least a little significance given that they’re in our division. It would be great if someone could look up Dye’s success against the Indians the past few years…
@Harv21: Grady “might not” be in a Tribe uniform by August? That’s not a prediction; that’s an indisputable fact. He might be and he might not be.
Dye is sweet! always liked him, stay away from Branyan…strikes out 2 much.
IF Grady is gone EVER, I seriously will not ever watch a Tribe game until Dolan sells the team or they win some games. I will go to a game or so given a dollar dog night, I will buy $7 tickets and move down to the first row since NO ONE will be at the games. I won’t buy ANY merchandise and will essentially quit watching baseball all together unless Fat Albert is on the TV.
I forgot to mention that the Tribe should be going after Washburn for the rotation. As much as I want to see them rolling out all the young kids EVERY DAY, we do need a few vets on the team to spell these guys. LaPorta, Grady, Choo, Brantley, A-Cab, Santana/Catcher X, and Valbuena against righties need to play 6 out of 7 days.
@S-Dub I mentioned Washburn in a previous comment and was told I didn’t know what I was talking about – go figure. I agree tho the Indians definitely need some kind of dependable arm in the way of a veteran for a pitching rotation that right now appears to be very weak. There are still free agents out there who could help the Indians the problem is they won’t play for free.
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