I've done numerous stories on the Yankees' need for a left fielder.
From Jason Bay, Matt Holliday, Johnny Damon, Mark DeRosa and Xavier Nady, they've all been mentioned and in some way linked to the Yankees.
There is another name to add to the mix for the Yankees: Jermaine Dye.
Now, there are multiple sources with different stories to the Yankees' interest in Dye.
Jon Heyman from Sports Illustrated has said that he doesn't see the Yankees as a strong suitor to land Dye and sees teams like the Braves, Giants and Rangers more likely to land Dye.
On the other hand, Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune has said the Yankees are definitely interested in Dye, especially after they landed Javier Vazquez last week.
So, we have two different feels to the Dye rumors.
Dye will be 36 next month, and has played mostly as a right fielder in his time with the White Sox. Other than being a right fielder, Dye also played a few games as a DH in 2009.
In 2009, Dye only hit .250, but also hit 27 home runs and 81 RBI in 140 games. While he does get older, he still can hit for power.
Dye is almost five years removed from winning the 2005 World Series MVP Award when he hit .438 for the White Sox in that series, but in 2008 against the Rays in the ALDS, Dye did hit .375—so Dye is no stranger to being a good player in big games.
Now, Dye made $11.5 million in 2009 with the White Sox, but because of his age, nobody expects Dye to make that kind of money in 2010.
In his first year with the White Sox in 2005, Dye made around $4.5 million, which might be around the Yankees' number for their apparent budget.
His offense is still good, but some might have to wonder what kind of defense Dye can play, especially if you are going to ask him to switch positions at an older age.
Personally, I am skeptical about the Yankees' interest in Dye because he seems like the kind of player that now might be better suited to be a right fielder and part-time DH rather than full time left fielder.
For all we know, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman might not have any interest in bringing Dye to the Yankees.
But if the newspapers and other sources are saying that the Yankees' interest in Dye is legit, then we all have to wonder how serious Cashman is in bringing the former World Series MVP into pinstripes.
If he can still bring a strong bat, like he did in 2006 where he hit 44 home runs, 120 RBI and hit .315, then if the price is right, sign Dye to a decent contract. I'd even sign up for his 2008 where he hit 34 home runs, 96 RBI and hit .292.
You can now throw Dye into the mix of the names that the Yankees are linked to for the left field job.
But only time will tell if the rumors are really true or if they are just another product of the hot stove and stay as just a rumor.
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