Jermaine Dye returns to Yankees radar

The Yankees are reportedly interested in signing free agent Jermaine Dye, according to Phil Rogers, and it wouldn’t be the first time Brian Cashman showed some interest in the soon-to-be-36-year-old right fielder.

Dye is coming off a rough year with the White Sox. Let’s look at his last three years with the White Sox:

Year	G	R	2B	HR	RBI	SO	AVG	OBP	SLG
2007	138	68	34	28	78	107	.254	.317	.486
2008	154	96	41	34	96	104	.292	.344	.541
2009	141	68	19	27	81	108	.250	.340	.453

That’s definitely respectable production, especially in comparison to Brett Gardner’s. I’d project the righty to post a similar year offensively to 2009 with the Yankees in 2010, but perhaps more RBIs because of who would be in front of him in the lineup.

However, if the Yankees sign him, they’ll have to switch Nick Swisher to left and put Dye in right. Swisher’s played 117 games in left in his career while Dye has spent 98.6 percent of his career manning right. Dye is a quality right fielder, but is aging and his range is definitely inferior to Gardner’s.

UPDATE: Jason over at It’s About the Money, Stupid! informs me Dye is an AWFUL right fielder. Good to know.

I’m not sure how much money Dye is looking for, but I’d guess maybe a two-year deal worth $7MM/yr. If I’m the Yankees, I stick with the speed and defense of Gardner or keep an eye out for Reed Johnson or Jonny Gomes.

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Note: Rogers said the Yankees were shopping Sergio Mitre and Chad Gaudin. Why not kill two birds with one stone by trading one or both of them for a left fielder? Just a thought.