"General manager Ken Williams admitted Sunday he thought about bringing back veteran right fielder Jermaine Dye.

"But our biggest need would be a left-handed bat, in my opinion,'' Williams said. "That doesn't fit or is consistent with what Ozzie (Guillen) wants to do. I did think about it, and Ozzie would be in a position where he would have to play him."

The Sox are banking that the production of Alex Rios over a full season, along with a rotating cast of designated hitters that includes Mark Kotsay and Andruw Jones, can offset the departure of Dye, who was given a $950,000 buyout instead of having his $12 million option picked up and remains a free agent."