Even though Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has spoken about his desire to sign Adam Dunn to a contract extension, the first baseman seems headed for free agency after the season. Dunn told Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post that nothing is imminent, and that he "assumes" he will end the season without an extension in place.
Dunn, 30, was reportedly seeking a three or four year deal to stick with the Nationals, but it doesn't seem as if the two sides ever got all that close to reaching an agreement on an extension. An unknown team claimed Dunn off waivers earlier this month, but no trade was made. Interest in the slugger was abundant before the trade deadline as well.
With offense and power trending downward throughout the league, Dunn's consistent homerun prowess has become increasingly more valuable despite his well-publicized defensive shortcomings. He's currently on pace for 39 homers, which would make 2010 the seventh consecutive season in which he's gone deep at least 38 times. Similar to the deadline, there would be a long line of teams bidding for Dunn's services as a free agent after the season.
Make it rain, Cashman.
Hahaha. He would make the perfect DH.
I would really like the Pirates to sign him, however unlikely that may be.
Agreed……on both counts.
Same numbers are still the same for a guy no one wanted two years ago. So why the change of heart? He’s still a DH that thinks he’s something more.
Go ahead Yanks give him 18 million a year, I could use a good laugh.
Only thing I can think of is that power numbers have gone down across the board while Dunn’s haven’t, and he has proven that he is somewhat competent at playing a defensive position.
Yeah… No way the Yanks pay him more than 14$ a year… A DH like him deserves around maybe 11$-12$, but I don’t think his agent has the nerve to haggle with the Yankees unless it’s Boras
Why would the Yankees be looking for a DH with all of the old guys they have on their team right now? Besides, Dunn does not want to DH, he wants to be a position player.
Are the Yankees, or any team for that matter, willing to put a clause in his contract that he gets paid double for the entire length of his contract if he is put in the lineup as a DH?
Problem, have you seen Dunn play the field??? MADAWN
Yes, I have… but that is what he wants to do so he will not sign with a AL team.
He’s said repeatedly he has no interest in DH-ing.
Perfect DH for the Rays, something they have needed for years. The problem? a team that does not pay anybody, unless it is at a bargain rate and why they are set to lose Crawford, Pena, looking to unload an affordable Shields and traded Kazmir last season when he was making what the typical #2-3 starter does on a team.
They said the same thing about Burrell.
I’d really like to see the Nats work something out with him. They could certainly use a star player still on their roster next season, with Strasburg likely on the DL.
A star player like Ryan Zimmerman, you mean?
Kidding, kidding. 😉 I’m hoping they keep Dunn as well. If they ARE considering just letting him walk away, I’d love to know who they have in mind as a replacement…
I think he’ll stay…for a lot more $$$ and security. Dunn thinks he’s a 1B (not DH) and I don’t think a contending team means that much to him if he’s getting what he wants.
I do think a half-doz good teams will try to get him to DH for 3y’s. He’ll have some nice options.
I could see the Red Sox signing him for say 3 yrs-36 mill to play first moving Youk to third while our first base prospects develop then moving Dunn to DH in the third and final yr of his contract. He’d absolutely crush in Fenway
Nats let Dunn walk and get whatever picks they can and then sign Carlos Pena (a Boras client) in an effort to stay cozy with Boras (after the Straburg/Harper signings) and get a guy that plays a much better defensive 1B. They then go strong in the Draft with their top pick for sucking this year and the ones that come from Dunn leaving. There are worse scenarios than Rizzo doing nothing on this topic right now.
With Strasburg out we need to resign him or I will have almost no reason at all to the go a Nats game next year.
Would look good in cubbie blue. Watch out waveland…..
id like to c him in the old english d
Dunn for the M´s, 3 years, 40 millions… Is a perferct fit for safeco
After seeing him absolutely rake against us this year at AT&T you better believe Sabean paid attention to him after wanting to go after him at the deadline. I have no doubt Sabean will try to get him this time especially after hearing that Dunn was open to coming here but got no offer the Giants will give him the contract he wants so don’t be surprised to see him in SF next year either
I put my money on the Cubs signing him.
Nobody met his demands so he’ll take the 2 picks in a strong draft.
I couldn’t agree more
Of course nobody met his demands because his demands seem to change everyday.
Not a guarantee they will get to picks for him. If the team that gets him also gets another type “A” then it depends on the draft order. Thats what happened to the Blue Jay’s with AJ.
Or he wanted a fair return. Something that is worth more than just the Type A status. If you let yourself get fleeced just for the sake of moving a player, other GM’s will find bridges to sell you.
Why should he get something MORE than whatever a Type A brings you. Here’s the basics of holding vs trading:
1. Salary – you save the pro-rated amount of his $12m deal – if a move was made around the All-Star break he could have shaved $6m in payroll to put somewhere else. Meanwhile, holding on to him may result in an extra win or 2 over the course of half a season. Big deal for a last place team.
2. Draft Picks – you have to offer arb and he has to decline. Last time Dunn wasn’t offered arb. No guarantees that he will be this time either. If no arb is offered you get NOTHING. If arb is offered you run the risk that he accepts and you are stuck with a $15m DH playing 1st base.
3. Future Draft Picks – He you offer and if he declines then you get some picks. The only guarantee with be the sandwich round pick. After that it’s a late first rounder or early second rounder. That is, as long as his new team doesn’t sign a high ranked Type A. Ask the Jays how their past 2 off-seasons with Type A’s have gone. There is a huge difference between getting picks 17 and 35 vs 35 and 95.
4. The probability of success for draft picks – The nature of draft picks is that they carry so much more risk than either major league players or guys in the high minors (presumably what the Nats could have received if they had traded Dunn). A potential draft pick is far less valuable than a guy mashing in AAA.
The Nats may get lucky and have everything fall into place. That doesn’t change the fact that holding onto Dunn was not in the best long-term interest of the club.
dunn does not want to dh
But what a player wants or does not want is irrelevant when the Yankees are being discussed. Come on, we all know better than that by now.