Having already drafted Bryce Harper and debuted Stephen Strasburg this week, the Nationals keep the good news coming. Adam Dunn says that he and his agent have begun discussing a possible contract extension with the Nationals, reports MLB.com's Bill Ladson. Talks between the team and agent Greg Genske were "cordial," according to Dunn, though no dollar figures were discussed.
There had been some speculation this year that if the Nationals once again fell out of contention, Dunn could be a trade chip. He's in the final year of a two-year, $20MM contract, and would be a valuable commodity on the trade market, given all the teams in need of an offensive boost. However, in the past few weeks, we've heard from both Jayson Stark and Ken Rosenthal that it's increasingly likely Dunn remains a National past this season, a scenario the slugger confirmed to Ladson:
"The Nationals know how I feel about this place. I hope that something can be worked out. Again, I'm not in any hurry. It's probably No. 10 on my list of things to worry about."
After posting a career-high in batting average (.267) in his first year in Washington, Dunn has improved it again this season, hitting .280/.378/.541 with 11 homers so far in 2010.
But the real question is does he still clog the bases?
I like Adam Dunn for the Nationals. It gives them a nice one-two punch at 3 and 4 in the line up. Even nicer that one swings right and one swings left. As long as he’s playing at first base, otherwise, I’d have to reconsider.
I think the issue will be years not dollars, after Philly gave away the store I doubt Dunn will sign for what the Nats will (and should) offer. 2 years $30M should get it done, but I’m betting Dunn is looking for something more like 5 years $75M and that’s just a stupid move for a NL team…
Dunn is crazy to think that his value has gone up that much. Adrian Gonzalez, Pujols, and Fielder are also on the market. He was 2 years 20Mil last time around when he was pretty much the only game in town after Texeira. Let’s give him an extra year and some more dollars and hope it works out.
Dunn is crazy to think that his value has gone up that much. Adrian Gonzalez, Pujols, and Fielder are also on the market. He was 2 years 20Mil last time around when he was pretty much the only game in town after Texeira. Let’s give him an extra year and some more dollars and hope it works out.
I didn’t know you could get paid $10 mil per year when your career high batting average is .267. Sign me up.
He isn’t deserving of 10 mil by any means, but consider that he has always had a high OBP and high slugging…average doesn’t completely make a player.
…because we all know that batting average is the best way to measure productivity…
When you throw up 40 HRs let me know
When you throw up 40 HRs let me know
Dunn is one of the most underrated players in the game.
Yes, he’ll strike out over 100 times a season, but he draws a ton of walks, carries a high OBP, and is pretty much guaranteed to sock 40 homers a season. His defensive liabilities have been minimized with being moved to 1B. Seems like a pretty good value to me.
Excellent points. If the Nats can get him for 2 years for $25 mil, it’s a win-win for both parties in my opinion.
The strikeouts have been conspicuous at times, and you wish there was some defensive swing so that some of his strikeouts didn’t occur with runners in scoring position. Dunn is a liability late in games sometimes because teams bring in their LOOGY and he can’t make contact to have productive outs. His power is probably going to be more like 30-35 homeruns as well in more spacious Nats park than at the GABP. That said, I’m a fan of Dunn as well. I think both parties need each other. Dunn would be a better fit in the AL for a team like the Red Sox but he doesn’t want to DH. The Nats don’t have many other options. They should be able to work something out.
The strikeouts have been conspicuous at times, and you wish there was some defensive swing so that some of his strikeouts didn’t occur with runners in scoring position. Dunn is a liability late in games sometimes because teams bring in their LOOGY and he can’t make contact to have productive outs. His power is probably going to be more like 30-35 homeruns as well in more spacious Nats park than at the GABP. That said, I’m a fan of Dunn as well. I think both parties need each other. Dunn would be a better fit in the AL for a team like the Red Sox but he doesn’t want to DH. The Nats don’t have many other options. They should be able to work something out.
Dunn is one of the most underrated players in the game.
Yes, he’ll strike out over 100 times a season, but he draws a ton of walks, carries a high OBP, and is pretty much guaranteed to sock 40 homers a season. His defensive liabilities have been minimized with being moved to 1B. Seems like a pretty good value to me.
Considering that Adam Dunn is Ryan Howard (Howard’s numbers are heavily influenced by the bats around him) if the Nationals or any team can get him for 10 million a year they’ll be doing well.
I think that it will take more than that. He’s outperformed his current 2 year 10 Million dollar year and probably wants a raise. Maybe 3 years 35Mil? There are others who know contracts better than me.
I think that it will take more than that. He’s outperformed his current 2 year 10 Million dollar year and probably wants a raise. Maybe 3 years 35Mil? There are others who know contracts better than me.
Considering that Adam Dunn is Ryan Howard (Howard’s numbers are heavily influenced by the bats around him) if the Nationals or any team can get him for 10 million a year they’ll be doing well.
I always like it when players admit that they like playing on a certain team and that they want to stay there.
Dunn really is the poor man’s version of Ryan Howard, throw him a 3/30 deal (or a 2/24) and you at least keep him at the money he is making now and you don’t handcuff the team with a big contract.
Teach Dunn to play a decent 1B and you’ll really have a winner.
Dunn’s a good fit in DC in a lot of ways. He gets along well with Zimmerman, helps keep the clubhouse loose, and reminds the Senators fans of their love affair with Hondo, Frank Howard, and his tape measure shots at RFK. Even his defensive horror is somewhat mitigated because the big target can help Desmond and Zimmerman feel a little more comfortable when their arms get wild. It would be rather nice if the Nats would sign a PH with pop who could play a decent defensive 1st base and outfield, though to help complement Dunn and serve as injury insurance. I am not a believer in Michael Morse.
Dunn’s a good fit in DC in a lot of ways. He gets along well with Zimmerman, helps keep the clubhouse loose, and reminds the Senators fans of their love affair with Hondo, Frank Howard, and his tape measure shots at RFK. Even his defensive horror is somewhat mitigated because the big target can help Desmond and Zimmerman feel a little more comfortable when their arms get wild. It would be rather nice if the Nats would sign a PH with pop who could play a decent defensive 1st base and outfield, though to help complement Dunn and serve as injury insurance. I am not a believer in Michael Morse.
Actually the two players are one in the same just in much different situations.
Howard gets to hit behind three All-stars and has a fourth hitting behind him, and has been in a similar situation for most of his career. So usually there are runs on base and a threat behind him to keep pitchers honest.
This leads to more pitches in the zone, more rbi, and a higher BA
Dunn during his stay in Cincinnati routinely hit fifth and really had nobody else in the lineup that was really capable of much of anything.
Players like Dunn and Howard have massive strike zones and when you swing from your heals hoping for homers these massive strike zones will be exploited by pitchers if they have good control and can hit their spots.
Since both have good strike zone judgement pitchers must hit them or both will take a walk. In Dunn’s case that was fine because he was usually stranded on first. With the Philly lineup that isn’t a good idea with Howard.
Another thing people tend to over look is that Dunn and Howard are the same age, in fact I believe they were born only a week apart.
Dunn and Howard are the same player, they’re just a different side of the coin.
Turn Howard into a Red and into a Philly and I think their careers would be very different.
Regardless Dunn will likely sign a contract that will be around half Howards total value and throwing out the team based stats (run/rbi) will have a similar stat line.
Actually the two players are one in the same just in much different situations.
Howard gets to hit behind three All-stars and has a fourth hitting behind him, and has been in a similar situation for most of his career. So usually there are runs on base and a threat behind him to keep pitchers honest.
This leads to more pitches in the zone, more rbi, and a higher BA
Dunn during his stay in Cincinnati routinely hit fifth and really had nobody else in the lineup that was really capable of much of anything.
Players like Dunn and Howard have massive strike zones and when you swing from your heals hoping for homers these massive strike zones will be exploited by pitchers if they have good control and can hit their spots.
Since both have good strike zone judgement pitchers must hit them or both will take a walk. In Dunn’s case that was fine because he was usually stranded on first. With the Philly lineup that isn’t a good idea with Howard.
Another thing people tend to over look is that Dunn and Howard are the same age, in fact I believe they were born only a week apart.
Dunn and Howard are the same player, they’re just a different side of the coin.
Turn Howard into a Red and into a Philly and I think their careers would be very different.
Regardless Dunn will likely sign a contract that will be around half Howards total value and throwing out the team based stats (run/rbi) will have a similar stat line.
Smart move by both parties. The Nationals would have a nice core of Zimmerman and Dunn along with the phenoms Strasburg and Harper. I’m sure Dunn realizes he has a chance to be a part of something big.
Nats pretty much have to sign Dunn or address 1B by trade or free agency if they don’t. They have nothing, zero, zilch behind Dunn if they don’t resign him. They’ve gotten a chance to look at Chris Marrero at AA Harrisburg, who they probably hoped would be a potential successor when they originally gave Dunn his contract. Marrero hasn’t done much to light the world afire. Sign Dunn for 3 years, and then hope Marrero hits better this year and part of next and becomes a potential trade piece for some greater needs. Resigning Dunn would have made it easier to consider trading Marrero in a Roy Oswalt deal (that I don’t want the Nats to do).
Nats pretty much have to sign Dunn or address 1B by trade or free agency if they don’t. They have nothing, zero, zilch behind Dunn if they don’t resign him. They’ve gotten a chance to look at Chris Marrero at AA Harrisburg, who they probably hoped would be a potential successor when they originally gave Dunn his contract. Marrero hasn’t done much to light the world afire. Sign Dunn for 3 years, and then hope Marrero hits better this year and part of next and becomes a potential trade piece for some greater needs. Resigning Dunn would have made it easier to consider trading Marrero in a Roy Oswalt deal (that I don’t want the Nats to do).
Smart move by both parties. The Nationals would have a nice core of Zimmerman and Dunn along with the phenoms Strasburg and Harper. I’m sure Dunn realizes he has a chance to be a part of something big.