White Sox: Top 5 Free Agent Signings in Franchise History

Jermaine Dye

Jermaine Dye‘s signing before the 2005 season didn’t get much fanfare. Dye was coming off a solid season with the Oakland Athletics before being signed by the Sox. Many Sox fans were aware of who Dye was a player after seeing him play five seasons with the Kansas City Royals before going to Oakland. Dye would sign a two-year, $10.15 million contract with the Sox before the 2005 season.

With the Sox, Dye would have one of his better seasons in the Majors in 2005 and made up for the loss of Magglio Ordonez in right field. Dye hit .274 with 31 home runs and 86 RBIs in his first season with the Sox in 2005. He would also provide the key hit in game four of the World Series to score the lone run of the game. After helping the Sox win their first World Series in 88 years, Dye would be named MVP of the 2005 World Series.

Dye was productive through his five seasons with the Sox. He was an All-Star in 2006 along with Pierzynski and ended that season fifth in MVP voting in the AL. During that 2006 season, Dye hit .315 with a 1.006 OPS, 44 home runs and 120 RBIs. In his five seasons with the Sox, Dye owned a .278/.344/.525 slash line with 164 home runs, 461 RBIs and a .869 OPS.