This is going to be a very busy off-season for Kenny Williams. One of the busier ones he has had in awhile.  The question really isn't who are the Sox going to go after this off-season, but who are they going to keep.  The two  names that pop into every ones head is Dye and Thome.   Dye and Thome deserve all the credit in the world for making the Sox a successful franchise over the past 4 years.  They have grinded though thick and thin, and gained the respect of everyone across the league.  Unfortunately, our time of having the duo of Dye and Thome in the heart of the order is about to run out.  All of us know, including Kenny Williams, that one of them has to go.  Only one player can comeback next year, and fill the position of DH.  Unfortunately, this is going to be one of the harder decisions Kenny Williams will have to make.  Let's take a look at the stats of the two first.

   2009                    103               375        102        24              67                 39          79          .272         .345        .512      .857

Jim Thome          Games           AB           H           HR             RBI             BB           SO          AVG         OBP        SLG     OPS

   2009                    92                 290         74           21             69                63           96           .255       .355          .514     .901

The Stats show why this decision is so tough.  While Jermaine does have a better average, more hits, and less strike outs than Thome, he also has close to 100 more AB's than Thome does and Thome has better run producing numbers.  Thome's main flaw with his stats is his strikeout rate.  Despite having 100 less AB's he has close to 20 more strikeouts than Jermaine does.   Just for fun, lets look at their stats of the past 3 years.

Jermaine Dye      Games           AB           H           HR             RBI             BB           SO          AVG         OBP        SLG     OPS

   2007                    138               508        129        28              78                 45         107         .254        .317        .486       .803

   2008                    154               590        172        34              96                 44         104         .292        .344        .541       .885

   2009                    103               375        102        24              67                 39          79          .272         .345        .512      .857

Jim Thome          Games           AB           H           HR             RBI             BB           SO          AVG         OBP        SLG     OPS

   2007                   130               432         119        35             96                95          134          .275       .410          .563     .973

   2008                   149               503         123        34             90                91          147          .245       .362          .503     .865

   2009                    92                290         74           21             69                63           96           .255       .355          .514     .901

Both Players are fairly similar.  You look at the 07 season, where Thome had a very solid year.  What does bring some concern though is the 2008 season.   Both Jermaine Dye and Jim Thome played in more games in 2008 compared to 2007, and Jim Thome seemed to decline.  Almost all his stats  went down in 19 extra games while Dye's numbers exploded in 2008.  Stats aren't the only thing that come into play though.  Money has alot to do with this dilemma as well.  Thome is an official free agent after this season ends while Jermaine Dye has a 12M  Mutual Option.  Thome has said that he would love to retire with Chicago, so you know a paycut could be had.  Dye may put up the better numbers, but if Thome is willing to sign a deal worth 2-4 Million, 2-4 Million is a lot less than 12M.  The money alone might make you think that Thome is the better option, but Thome and Dye are different players.  Thome is a slugger, there is no queston about that, but the only thing he seems to do nowadays is either hit Homeruns or get walked.  He has a very hard hitting with the pull shift on, and if he doesn't hit the ball out of the park, he usually gets out.  Jermaine Dye meanwhile, is the better all around hitter.  He can pull the ball and take it the other way equally well, and doesn't rely on the long ball every game.  Jermaine Dye nearly has 2x the amount of doubles Thome has every season.  He also has a higher average and OBP nearly every year.

So the question is, who should the White Sox take this off-season?  Both Dye and Thome are huge sluggers in this lineup, but both are getting up there in age.   If your Kenny Williams, you have to decide, do i take the big lefty that is usually a hit or miss, for less money?  Or do i take the younger Jermaine Dye who may cost 3x as much as Thome will?  There is one thing we all know for sure, Kenny will have a lot to do this off-season to replace the absense of either Thome or Dye.