NewsSox nearing decision time with Dye
Podsednik, Castro file for free agency on Thursday
By Scott Merkin / MLB.com
11/05/09 9:13 PM EST
CHICAGO -- The biggest name on the list of potential 2009 White Sox free agents might not even become a free agent for another 10 days. And at that point, the end of Jermaine Dye's highly successful run on the South Side could be near.Dye, the All-Star right fielder and 2005 World Series Most Valuable Player, has a $12 million mutual option for the 2010 campaign with the team. Dye has to exercise or decline the option within five days of the end of the World Series, which the Yankees finished off with a victory over Philadelphia on Wednesday night in New York.
If Dye exercises that option, which he is expected to do, the White Sox would have until 10 days after the World Series to either buy him out for $1 million or have Dye back at the $12 million salary for 2010. Thursday's rumors of the Mark Teahen deal with the Royals would seem to be another indication of Dye's time in Chicago coming to a close, if those rumors came to fruition, even if Teahen was targeted to play on the infield.
But even if the Teahen deal does not go through, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's comments at the end of the year indicated the White Sox probably would be going in a different direction from their respected veteran right fielder and unassuming leader. When Dye was asked if the finish of the 2009 campaign felt different from any other season-ender, he took a pragmatic approach to a slightly uncertain future.
"You just get ready for the next year," said Dye at the time. "Take a little break and do the same things you do every offseason."
It didn't take long for the White Sox to make a decision on one of their five potential free agents, agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with Mark Kotsay, which was announced on Thursday. This particular deal certainly came as absolutely no surprise, not with Guillen talking about Kotsay standing out as a key player to have back for ultimate team success in 2010.
Kotsay will serve as a solid fourth outfielder, not to mention a left-handed hitter who can spell first baseman Paul Konerko. He also will have a hand in filling a designated hitter role that has no set player at this point.
While Kotsay and the White Sox came to terms, catcher Ramon Castro and outfielder Scott Podsednik were two of 79 players who filed on Thursday. Right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel is the only other White Sox free agent, and the team is not expected to make an offer to bring him back for a third season.
For the next 15 days, the White Sox have an exclusive negotiating period with their free agents. Podsednik figures to receive an offer from the White Sox, and if the team acquires Teahen and re-signs Podsednik for the top of the lineup, then only upgrading the bullpen would seem to be left on the agenda.
Key players such as closer Bobby Jenks, left fielder Carlos Quentin, left-handed starter John Danks and relievers D.J. Carrasco and Tony Pena all are arbitration-eligible.
Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
