His 27 strikeouts have come in 73 at-bats. This is not same player that most pitchers feared for so many years. It’s just not David Ortiz style of baseball.

The Red Sox have to get more production out of the DH spot or they will find themselves looking up at the Yankees and Rays all year. They could go after 36 year old Jermaine Dye who is still looking for an employer. Jermaine batted .250 with 27 HRs and 81 RBI last year and could be a better option than Ortiz.

If the Red Sox were to sign Dye, he would not be available for at least a month while he gets into baseball shape.

It sure will seem different in baseball not seeing Ortiz on the Red Sox. I remember when Manny left; it took a little time getting used to.

Red Sox nation embraced Big Papi and will never, ever, lose that love for the player they’ve adored for so many years. It will be a tough day when he is released.

Quote from Orlando Hudson – “You see guys like Jermaine Dye without a job,” Minnesota Twins second baseman Orlando Hudson said Monday. “Guy with [27 home runs and 81 RBIs] and can’t get a job. Pretty much sums it up right there, no? You’ve got some guys who miss a year who can come back and get $5, $6 million, and a guy like Jermaine Dye can’t get a job. A guy like Gary Sheffield, a first-ballot Hall of Famer, can’t get a job.

Here are the facts that you fail to realize;

• Dye turning down a one-year contract offer from the Washington Nationals.
• Dye is 36 and on the decline. It’s not an investment teams want to make.
• Dye spent the second half of 2009 in a deep slump from which he never emerged, batting .179 and slugging .297 while playing subpar defense in right field.
• He is not worth $11.5 million salary and this is what many teams think he is expecting, it’s not happening.

I find this disturbing as we celebrate Jackie Robinson where every player honors Jackie Robinson by wearing his No. 42.

The Yankees should platoon speedster Brett Gardner in left with newly acquired Hoffman, but the Yanks are looking for depth and a low priced player. I am not sure if the Yankees will get Dye for less than 6 million even though it’s for one year. The Yankees are buying time for the big prize (Carl Crawford) in next year’s free agent market.

The biggest concern is that Dye is not a good OF and left field in Yankee stadium is like playing center field. But was Damon any better? They could move Swisher to left and Dye to right as a possibility. You still have a 36 year old player that should be a DH, but that train left a long time ago after the Yankees acquired Nick Johnson.

Jermaine Dye’s bat would fit well behind Tex and A-Rod and would be an upgrade over Posada or Swisher. The Yankees could put Dye in left, and if they need defense to protect a game, they can opt to put in Gardner.

The Yankees should not be in any rush to obtain outfield depth. There will be many second-tier outfielders for them to choose from until the end of January. If they play their cards right by taking their time, the price tag for available outfielders will fall.

They could sign Nady, Dye, Marlon Byrd, Jerry Hairston or even Randy Winn. If I was a betting man, I bet on Dye.

What are your thoughts?