I'd be in favor of re-signing Thome over Dye, because Thome is a better run producer...Dye is the better hitter though, but this is thinking into 2011.
Thome would likely sign a one year deal, and retire when he gets 600, and be cheaper.
Dye would command more money and would most likely want at least a two year deal, but I think the plan as of right now is to have Konerko DH and Viciedo play 1B in 2011, so that wouldn't work for Dye or Paulie, and I take Paulie in that instance.
Re-sign Pods, since D2 or Mitchell will take at least one more year to develop.
Re-sign Dotel, since he is a bullpen strength.
Call up Hudson to be the #5 starter.
Keep Jenks, since he has been a consistent and good closer.
Bring back Kotsay, since he gives a lot of flexibility*.
Lineup for 2010:
1. Podsednik, LF
2. Beckham, 3B
3. Thome, DH
4. Konerko, 1B
5. AJ, C
6. Quentin, RF
7. Rios, CF
8. Ramirez, SS
9. Getz 2B
Bench:
Nix, 2B/SS
Kotsay, 3B/1B/OF*
Flowers, C+
D2, OF^
Rotation:
1. Buehrle
2. Peavy
3. Danks
4. Floyd
5. Hudson
Bullpen:
Jenks
Thornton
Dotel
Linebrink
Carrasco
Pena
Torres&
*= I doubt Kotsay would want to be a bench player, since he has historically been a starter. So if he doesn't reisgn, the bench adds Viciedo to backup 1B/3B.
+= I wouldn't mind easing Flowers into the MLB, because not everyone is Slayer. AJ could possibly teach him a few things to make him a better catcher (Jake Taylor and Rube Baker all over again?), and this way he could learn the pitching staff before becoming the everyday catcher.
^= Instead of D2, I'd love to see Dye back, and rotate with Quentin and Thome between RF and DH. It most likely wouldn't happen, but they'd all get rest and stay healthy, but I doubt it. D2 could (like Flowers) ease his way into the MLB, and I think he is ahead of Mitchell as of right now.
&=Pipe dream, trade Fields for Poreda. Put Poreda in the pen and have Coop help him develop more pitches. Perhaps he could fill in at #5 if Hudson didn't work out.
