Get this:  Jermaine Dye now believes he will play for peanuts, even if it is only for a million or so of them.  This was something he would not "lower" himself to last season.  Apparantly, it's hard for post-jocks to earn incomes near their playing pay when in retirement.

Now for the interesting part.  Dye has said that the Rays were one of three teams who have already contacted him about playing for them in 2011.  (Since Dye is acting as his own agent, he is dealing with the teams directly...perhaps to keep a few more of those peanuts...or his agent left him saying he wouldn't stay for peanuts either).  Straight from the horses mouth, the Rays have told Dye to keep them in mind when selecting his next team.

Signing a guy who has been out of the league for a year?  Who turns 37 in January?  Doesn't this wreak of desperation (or cheapness)?

Not after first glance.  Take a look at these numbers:  .924, .917, .895  From 2007-2009 these are the OPS numbers for Dye vs LHP.  He also hit 1 HR every 16 AB, 15 AB, and 18 AB in his last three seasons vs lefties.  If Dye still can hit effectively vs LHP, then maybe he could be part of a DH platoon (with Jim Thome, as Tommy has mentioned) or the Rays new Gabe Kapler, minus the whole playing outfield thing.

Either way, it's nice to see the Rays in classic fashion of looking under every rock and hard place to make themselves better for next year.  But do you think it's worth it to offer Dye a 1 year, 1 mil contract for 2011?