Why Dye?

Gordon Edes, Globe:

[W]hile the White Sox remain hopeful of persuading the Sox to make a deal for outfielder Jermaine Dye, the price remains too high for Boston. Chicago would take Wily Mo Pena but want either Manny Delcarmen or Justin Masterson (2nd round pick in 2006). The Red Sox will not part with either for a rent-a-player like Dye, who is eligible for free agency after the season. There is a decent chance that the Red Sox will not make a substantive deal before tomorrow's 4 p.m. deadline ...

Trading MDC would leave us with White Flag & Donnelly as RH set-up guys. Not good. And Masterson appears just below Buccholz and Ellsbury on the untouchable list.

Why the interest in Dye? The outfield seems pretty set. Are there health issues with either Ortiz or Drew that we don't know about?

Recently at SoSH:

koufax32:

I think the FO looks at Dye as a Papi fill-in. If Papi were to have surgery on the knee it would take 4-6 weeks to heal right (this was discussed a while ago and I couldn't find the post)? So, Dye gets to play LF and DH every day during that time. Afterwards he becomes the best bench bat in the majors. I can see this trade happening and then finding out in another 1-2 days that Papi's having the knee taken care of. ... Dye would be here to make sure we get into the playoffs. When we get there we have a healthy Papi.

ConigsCorner:

I think koufax32 nails it. Clearly, Papi isn't right which is why the Sox have so much interest in Dye. Williams knows this so he and Theo are playing chicken and will continue to do so right up to the deadline. The pale hose aren't going anywhere, so there's no pressure on Williams to deal as he can sit back and collect the draft picks when Dye leaves as a free agent. The pressure is all on Theo.