It wasn't long ago that contract extension negotiations between the Nationals and Adam Dunn broke off. Since then, GM Mike Rizzo has made Dunn available in trade talks. Or, perhaps more accurately, GM Mike Rizzo has set a price on Adam Dunn in trade talks. The price is reportedly very, very high, but that hasn't deterred the White Sox from trying their darndest:
According to a major-league source, [Chicago GM] Williams spent the last few days trying desperately to pry Adam Dunn from the grasps of the Washington Nationals, offering up "anyone and anything he has in the minor leagues in a package.'' And no one is untouchable, including pitcher Daniel Hudson or infielder Dayan Viciedo.
The problem?
"The problem Kenny is finding out is that [Nats GM Mike] Rizzo is acting like Dunn is Ryan Howard,'' the source said.
That means that Rizzo is still fixated on getting Gordon Beckham or Carlos Quentin, two players on the current big-league roster that Williams has refused to move.
We'll have to see whether either one of the general managers budges, but Dunn would make a lot of sense for the first-place White Sox, who haven't gotten anything out of left field or DH. Dunn, to date, has hit .286/.374/.575 as a first baseman, and is on pace for another mammoth home run season.
The White Sox, of course, are not the only team looking to swing a deal for a big bat, and Dunn's name has come up in connection with the Tampa Bay Rays as well. They haven't yet gotten involved to the degree that the White Sox have, but they could always jump in at a moment's notice.
Follow along with this storystream and the storystream over at SB Nation DC as the Dunn story develops.
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Mike Rizzo's kind of right to value Dunn so highly, at least in theory.
Is Dunn actually as valuable as Ryan Howard? Probably not, but he’s very close. They’re both 30-year-old power hitters without a history of injury who strike out a ton and put up big OPS numbers. Since ‘06, Howard’s OPS+ numbers are a little better, but Dunn’s having a better 2010.
I guess Dunn’s contract expires at the end of the season, though. If I were Rizzo and I’m an hour away from the trade deadline, I’d dump Dunn for whatever I could get. The rights to Harold Baines and a tastefully-arranged fruit basket would suffice.
Weekend Editor, SB Nation
by Jon Bois on Jul 20, 2010 1:35 PM EDT reply actions
I think it was put best by someone on Twitter:
by Jeff Sullivan on Jul 20, 2010 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Dunn is underrated
The last six full seasons Dunn has hit 40+ homers 5 times and 38 the sixth season. He drove in 100+ runs in 5 of those seasons and 92 in the sixth. Sure, he doesn’t have a great career average, but his on base is great because he draws a ton of walks. He is on pace for 38 homeruns and 100+ RBI again this year.
How many sluggers do you know that have done that. Actually, only Pujols has more homers than Dunn since the start of 2004. Sure he is 30, but a few more years of that type of production can be expected. Jon is absolutely false in saying he has a history of injury. He has played 150+ games every season except for 2003 and his rookie season in which he was called up mid-summer.
by 6612 on Jul 20, 2010 11:20 PM EDT reply actions
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