Tell me whether this guy sounds like an option for your team's outfield situation.

Player X hit 61 home runs over the last two seasons, posted on-base percentages in the .340 range the last two seasons, and hit .302/.375/.567 before the All-Star Break last season.

Player X is a free agent. His name is Jermaine Dye, the pride of Vacaville, Calif.

Sure, there are some negatives with signing Dye: he's not good with the glove, he's 36 years old, and he also hit .179/.293/.297 after the All-Star Break last season. But he does deserve a chance in 2010, whether it's starting for a weaker organization or playing a bench role for a contending team.

And you can't blame the economy: The Giants actually gave Aubrey Huff money, while the Diamondbacks signed Adam LaRoche to a two-year deal.

Here are a few teams that should be exploring a deal for Dye.

Houston Astros
Lance Berkman's knee is swelling after recent knee surgery, which can't be good news. Carlos Lee and Hunter Pence will try to anchor the lineup while Berkman is out, but they could use some help. The Astros could try Dye at first until Berkman returns, and then slide him into the outfield with any of the starters need a day off. (When Bourn sits, the Astros would slide Pence to center.) The short porch at Minute Maid Park should help Dye with his power numbers.

Oakland Athletics
The A's are so desperate for offense that they're trying Eric Chavez there to get his bat into the lineup. That's never a good thing. Dye has had success in Oakland before, and it's not like the Athletics are loaded in the outfield or DH. Or first base, for that matter.

San Francisco Giants
There are no strong options in the Giants outfield right now, especially considering Mark DeRosa will be moved all over the diamond to help the team. Dye's 27 home runs from last season would've led the team, including over Pablo Sandoval.

Washington Nationals
They're a few years from contending, but the Nationals could use Dye to split time with Adam Dunn at first or as the everyday right fielder. Justin Maxwell figures to have that honor after the Nationals released Elijah Dukes. It's not like Maxwell is a stud prospect who needs to be in the Majors, either.

This, of course, doesn't count the teams like the Indians, Padres, Blue Jays, Pirates or Royals who won't contend this season and could spin Dye for a decent prospect at the trade deadline or reap the rewards of a good player performing well over an entire season. But there are more teams where signing Dye makes a lot more sense.

Sportswriters, at times, write things that don't make sense. If you are covering a team with many other writers sharing the same opinions, you'll have to offer a different perspective to stand out. That, or you can blend in to the crowd.

But there are some things that are inexcusable. Gwen Knapp, of the San Francisco Chronicle, provided one of those today.

Now that Tony LaRussa has publicly revealed his fantasy of using Mark McGwire as a pinch-hitter if the Cardinals remain in contention when MLB rosters expand Aug. 31, the Giants should feel perfectly comfortable making the same option available to Barry Bonds.

We can all agree to suspend judgment, since the commissioner himself, after years of re-casting himself as the steroid sheriff, graciously welcomed the news that McGwire would become the St. Louis hitting coach. Apparently, all is forgiven, including McGwire's decision to duck questions in front of Congress.

I don't see how Selig could have done anything differently in this situation. Did you honestly expect him to react angrily to the news that McGwire was hired as the team's hitting coach? Is he going to come out and condemn the Cardinals for hiring McGwire, despite is past associations with performance-enhancing substances.

(I'm not saying McGwire took anything, but it's safe to say McGwire is guilty in the court of public opinion. I don't have evidence for anything, but I also think McGwire was juicing.)

No, Selig can't do that. It would tarnish Major League Baseball if he said something along the lines of, "We don't want McGwire associated with any Major League team." Why? Because MLB didn't do anything to McGwire's career numbers. If he's not guilty of anything in the past in MLB's eyes, then why should he be guilty when it comes to being hired for a job?

We can't use Selig's response to McGwire's hiring as evidence to anything. Selig could think McGwire is the biggest cheat MLB has ever seen and wants nothing to ever do with him. Selig could think McGwire was the cleanest player who ever lived. His reaction in both instances would be the same. Therefore, it's inconclusive as to whether or not Selig has forgiven McGwire.

We also know that sportswriters have not forgiven McGwire. For that, just take a look at the results of the Hall of Fame balloting. The fans probably haven't forgiven McGwire, especially after his non-showing in the Congressional hearings and his reluctance to speak with the media concerning his past after being hired by the Cardinals.

I'm also willing to bet that the fans will boo McGwire relentlessly should he ever step to the plate again.

What's even worse is Knapp's closing line to her column:

If McGwire can go up to the plate and belt one out in September, we'll marvel over how 46 has become the new 26. The words "human growth hormone" won't cross our minds or lips.

Really? Are you kidding me? McGwire is guilty in the court of public opinion, that much is certain. As soon as he stepped to the plate, the words "human growth hormone" and "cheat" will cross the minds of fans and "boo" will cross their lips.

As for the sportswriters who do not vote for McGwire (about 75%), they will be thinking the same thing: McGwire is a cheat.

If McGwire does hit a home run, at the age of 46, that will be more reason to suspect he's a cheat. Teams stayed away from Barry Bonds and Rafael Palmeiro after their ties to performance-enhancing substances. Neither could find a job, despite wanting to play and perhaps being productive.

Manny Ramirez was booed after he tested positive for a women's fertility drug. Alex Rodriguez, as well. David Ortiz, a well liked player, was booed after being linked to the 2003 drug tests by the New York Times. Roger Clemens couldn't find a job despite being one of the better pitchers over the last 50 years.