Rosenthal On Dunn, Red Sox, Rays, Reds

Let's dive into the latest edition of Full Count by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports..

• Rival executives still can't figure out what the Nats were thinking by not trading Adam Dunn as some believe that they will not re-sign the slugger.  If they dealt him, they would have saved about $4MM in salary and another $2MM in draft pick bonuses.  The players they would have gotten in return would already have minor league track records and would have been closer to the majors.  Though next year's draft figures to be very deep, Rosenthal notes that draft picks take money and time.
• If Boston stays in contention, they will push hard to get a left-handed bat to complement Lowell at first and Carlos Delgado may just be the beginning.  Even after signing Delgado, the BoSox will continue to scour the market for players such as Adam LaRoche and Lyle Overbay.  Earlier today, we learned that the Red Sox have shown interest in another left-handed hitting first baseman, Chris Davis of the Rangers.
• Jeremy Hellickson gives the Rays a sixth rotation option for 2011, but that doesn't mean that the Rays will have enough of a surplus for a trade.  They have depth but they're not quite as deep as they were following the 2008 campaign.  Rosenthal believes that they are better off keeping what they have intact and putting one of their starters in the bullpen.
• Recently, Reds manager Dusty Baker told reporters that the club has approached him about a contract extension.  Logically, he deserves a pay raise based on the team's performance this season.  However, ownership may not want to go that route.  Given the volatility expected in the managerial ranks this winter, the Reds will have plenty of options should they look elsewhere for a skipper.