"Jermaine Dye appears headed for retirement.

The free-agent outfielder sat out last season rather than accept a contract that he deemed unsuitable.

Dye, 37, made public his desire to return for the 2011 season, but has yet to receive a guaranteed major-league offer.

"I would still like to play, but I think my choices have passed and teams have gone with other people," Dye said Wednesday.

"I will continue to stay in shape and hopefully someone will call. If nothing gets done by the end of the spring, I may call it a career."

Dye said he spoke with the Dodgers in December about setting up a workout, but never heard back from the club.

The hang-up, according to both Dye and Dodgers officials, was Dye's desire for a major-league contract.

The Dodgers were willing to make Dye only a minor-league offer, and ended up signing another right-handed hitter, Marcus Thames, to a one-year, $1 million major-league deal.

Thames, 33, hit 12 homers for the Yankees in 237 at-bats last season. Dye did not play, though he was first among American League outfielders in home runs and second in RBIs the previous five years."