Adam Dunn is what he is: one of the few hitters in baseball capable of reaching 40 homers annually and a consistently below average defender. He knows it, the Nationals know it and so do all of Dunn’s other potential suitors. His game hasn’t changed much recently and his strengths and weaknesses will likely remain constant for the next few seasons.
The Nationals would like to build a better defensive team and, with no DH slot, must find room for Dunn on the field if they re-sign him this offseason. Any team would love to add 40 homers to its lineup, but after two years, the Nationals realize that Dunn’s defense is a liability. They are said to like Carlos Pena, another powerful first baseman on the brink of free agency, partly for his glovework.
Despite Dunn’s defense, the Nationals have had interest in re-signing him all season long. At this point it seems likely that Dunn will reach free agency, but the 30-year-old could be a fit in Washington in 2011. Ryan Zimmerman wants the slugger back and so do the Nats fans who have been encouraging the team’s front office to keep him. But their wish won’t necessarily come true…
Will the Nationals re-sign Adam Dunn?
Click here to vote and here to view the results.
I don’t know what they want to do, at the trade deadline they didn’t want to trade him and now all of a sudden they don’t want to re-sign him. They can’t make up their minds but because they can’t make up their minds I think Dunn signs elsewhere.
I still want Dunn in Boston. Sign him for 4 years and plop him at 1B. Put Youk at 3rd and Papi at DH. That would be for 2011. Then when Ortiz’s contract is up release him and put Dunn at primary DH and Youk back to First base.
For 2011 the Sox line-up would be:
LF Ellsbury
2B Pedroia
3B Youkilis
1B Dunn
Ca V Martinez
DH Ortiz
RF Drew
CF Cameron
SS Scutaro
Not a bad line-up
thats exactly what I have been saying!! but I think Cameron will be the 4th outfielder next season…hopefully. I can stand one season of horrible defense.
I am no red sox fan but I don’t like the lineup. First, you lose speed and agility as I don’t see Beltre in the lineup. Youk is good at 1st and same goes for Beltre. Dunn will be a defensive liability at 1st. Second point, you increase the number of strikeouts by adding Dunn. Third, a 4 year contract would be terrible to give to an aging hitter who is horrible at defense.
This is a line-up if the Sox let Beltre go and pick up the 2 draft picks. I am aware that this would be a worse defence for the Sox with Dunn at first and Youk at 3rd but as I said this would be a one-year deal until Papi’s contract is over. In 2012 we can look for a better solutions at third but I think this would be a pretty awesome line-up.
As for the strikeouts, who cares? Each guy in that line-up I proposed is capable of at least a .350 OBP and the 2-6 guys could all approch .400. That’s the important thing.
The four-year contract would be looking at 2011 at 1B the last 3 as primary DH.
I’m thinking the White Sox keep up their deadline chase, and try to replace Konerko with Dunn.
To answer the poll: No, the Nats will not sign Adam Dunn. With 3 days left in the season, there’s no way he re-ups here without testing the free agent waters. And once he gets out there, I’d be shocked, SHOCKED, if the Nats offered the most money and the most years.
We will miss him here in DC.