According to Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, White Sox GM and other front office members are evaluating talent at the Arizona Fall League for a possible Jermaine Dye trade. Dye can block trades to six teams, but Williams has a short list of suitors for him. He is set to earn $11.5MM in ’09 and has a $12MM mutual option for ’10 with a $1MM buyout.
Dye, 35 in January, hit .292/.344/.541 in 645 plate appearances. He plays a below-average right field, according to the plus/minus system. The Rays, Angels, Braves, Mets, Phillies, and Reds could be in the market for a corner outfielder. Gonzales says Williams hopes to build a younger and quicker team for the future.
Gonzales adds that White Sox officials watched Mets prospects Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz pitch. The Mets could match up on Dye, Javier Vazquez, or Bobby Jenks.