The option called for $12 million for 2010, but the White Sox opted to buy him out for $950,000.

Dye finished the year hitting .250 with 27 home runs and 81 RBI for the White Sox.

Sherman continues on to explain why he feels the Mets will inevitably make a deal, and other teams in the NL East who could post competition in the market place.

Meanwhile, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, the Rockies appear likely to trade a variety of players, while suggesting the team comsider moving OF Brad Hawpe, who will earn $5.5 million this season and $7.5 million in 2010, after which he has a $10 million team option for 2011 with a $500,000 buyout, after which he is eligible to be a free agent.

Hawpe is hitting .336 in 39 games for the Rockies this season, while batting .275 on the road.

He has hit at least 22 home runs with at least a .381 OBP during each of the last three seasons.

…this makes sense, since i was told by a person connected to the team that the Nationals will likely want Bobby Parnell from the Mets for johnson… in my opinion, this is fair, but is not worth the risk because of johnson’s history with injuries…

Parnell is 2–0 with a 1.96 ERA in 20 relief appearances for the Mets.

Gammons also said the Indians will not trade Cliff Lee or Victor Martinez.

Later, in a report for ESPN.com, Gammons wrote of more trade rumors, including players like Matt Holliday, Jake Peavy and Khalil Greene.

Meanwhile, also on ESPN.com, in his latest Rumblings & Grumblings report, Jayson Stark says the White Sox are ‘open for business,’ suggesting the team will listen to offers for OF Jermaine Dye, 1B Paul Konerko and C A.J. Pierzynski.

Stark also believes the A’s will wait until July to begin fielding offers for Matt Holliday, and suspects players like Orlando Cabrera and Jason Giambi could also become available as well.

…this is an intriguing and reasonable group of players for the Mets to consider, especially pierzynski, dye and cabrera, who would only be needed if Jose Reyes and Alex Cora are out for a super-long time…

The Mets and White Sox were connected in rumor regarding Dye throughout much of the off-season.

…if Gary Sheffield fizzles out, and Daniel Murphy is successful at first base, dye could move to left and be the missing power bat in place of Carlos Delgado… meanwhile, pierzynski is the type of catcher the Mets always talk about wanting, but never seem to go and get, i.e., a vocal, tough, infield leader…

By the way, to listen to fans and reporters, such as this chat from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, it’s seems a foregone conclusion in Pittsburgh that the Pirates will trade 1B Adam LaRoche this season.

LaRoche hit roughly .270 with 20 or so home runs and around 85 RBI in each of the last two seasons, but is hitting just .232 in 39 games for the Pirates this year.

…from what i can gather, the Mets have no interest in laroche, which i am glad to hear… i still believe murphy can match those sort of numbers if given a full season at first base, where he’ll play more or less the same caliber defense as laroche…

To vote in this week’s Fan Confidence Rating, click here.

“I can’t comment on a player on another team.  Right now, we’re not in the position player market – we’re in the pitcher market.”

Speaking of position players…

Reds GM Walt Jocketty told MLB.com that he doubts Adam Dunn will be re-signing in with Cincinnati, “Especially at the price he’s looking for.”

The Angels have interest in White Sox OF Jermaine Dye, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Last month, in a report for the New York Post, Joel Sherman said the Mets and Rays had been in talks regarding Sonnanstine and Jackson, since Tampa has shown interest in Aaron Heilman.

Speaking of outfielders…

“The Phillies, Mets and Cubs appear to have separated themselves from the pack of teams pursuing outfielder Raul Ibanez,” writes Jayson Stark at ESPN.com.

Stark also reports that Scott Boras met with the Dodgers yesterday to discuss bringing free-agent OF Manny Ramirez back to Los Angeles.  However, Stark says, ‘The Dodgers did not put their two-year, $45-million contract offer back on the table.’

…the buzz in Vegas seems to be that boras has every intention of making manny the last player to sign a contract this off-season, in an effort to focus a market for his services…

Accoridng to the Boston Globe, “Milton Bradley is in intense discussions with the Cubs.”

According to the report, the deal is done and will be announced later the week.

Later in the night, though, Reds GM Walt Jocketty categorically denied the report, according to MLB.com, as did a source in the Chicago Tribune.

However, today at MLB.com, Jonathon Mayo writes, “don’t be shocked if Homer does get dealt at some point.  Some folks have said there’s some truth to the Dye-for-Bailey rumor.

Yesterday, Buster Olney described rumors of Dye being traded as ‘overblown,’ in a report for ESPN.com.

Today, also at ESPN.com, Jayson Stark quotes an NL executive as saying, “I’m hearing more and more that he’s the next in line,” with the Braves, Reds and Royals showing interest.

According to Stark, “Some Mets rumors have floated, even though adding an outfielder is deep on their priorities list.”

According to the report, citing a major-league source, ‘The deal is done and will be announced this week.’

…from what i recall, the White Sox were most interested in Jon Niese and Robert Parnell from the Mets, though i am not sure if any combination would have been able to get dye to Queens…

Update, 10:43 pm:

In a post to the Chicago Tribune, Mark Gonzales says a source with knowledge of these talks rejected the above report from the Dayton Daily News, noting, “The source added that the Sox were seeking more prospects besides Bailey.”

Update, 10:56 pm:

“Reds GM Walt Jocketty categorically denied a report from the Dayton Daily News that Bailey was traded for Dye,” reports MLB.com.

“Wrong.  It’s not even close,” Jocketty told reporters.  “We haven’t had any discussions with the White Sox since before Thanksgiving.”

…there have been countless reports suggesting the

According to Ken Rosenthal at FoxSports.com, Brewers OF Mike Cameron, Tigers 1B-OF Marcus Thames and Rangers OF Marlon Byrd are all available through trade.

In a post to ESPN.com in March of last season, Jayson Stark wrote: “The Mets love Thames, but they’re not going to trade Aaron Heilman for him.”

However, today in Newsday, according to ‘a person familiar with the situation,’ David Lennon writes, ‘There is nothing there,’ with regards to the Dye-Jenks-Mets-Martinez rumor.

In a post to hie blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman describes the rumor as ‘nonesense,’ after having talked with a few of the team’s executives.

…as i said yesterday, a deal between the Mets and Sox involving dye and jenks may have been true once before…however, from what i can gather, the Mets are more focused on Huston Street, since they match up better with the Rockies…plus, i believe he will not cost martinez…more like Nick Evans, if a prospect is needed…

Yesterday, MiLB.com ranked Martinez No. 32 on its annual Top 50 Prospects list.  In 2007, he was ranked No. 17.

According to Lennon, ‘The Mets are not prepared to deal Martinez,’ whose name will likely be mentioned a lot during next week’s Winter Meetings in Las Vegas.

…from what i can gather, other teams are leery about martinez, because he is being scouted in essentially the exact-same way he was three years ago, i.e., he’s got tons of potential, great swing, etc., but he has yet to prove his talent…plus, he’s been hurt a lot…

…in the end, it feels like other teams are tired of hearing about his ‘potential,’ despite his young age, and are eager to see him hit, stay healthy and actually produce and dominate, before they once again buy in to the hype…

…this may be why he dropped 15 spots on MiLB.com’s list…