Who Wants 40-homer Lock Adam Dunn?
Baseball February 5th. 2009, 2:00pm
Adam Dunn’s massive, multiyear contract did not develop. Despite his probable availability for a slender one-year deal, no one wants the man who has hit 40 or more home runs the past five seasons.
The Mets need a bat, but seem set for Spring Training. Los Angeles has interest, but only if Ramirez signs elsewhere. Washington made an offer, but, apparently, one that could be refused.
Dunn polarizes, perhaps more than any player. For the new school, he gets 40 home runs and 100 walks every season. Even a disastrous year for him is still around a 115 OPS+. For the grizzled, he strikes out too much, clogs the bases he’s on so often and just looks apathetic.
There are contending teams, particularly in the NL, who could use him. But, why aren’t some of the non-contending teams interested?
Whether Sabermatrician or Orthodox, we can set aside the schism and agree, we all like dingers. Adam Dunn hits them. He may not be perfect, but there’s magic in his bat. He can hit a home run at any time. He’s exciting to watch.
For a moribund team, such as the Royals or the Pirates, why not take a chance on Dunn? He won’t revolutionize the club or help them join Dane Cook in OcTOber, but he might make watching them more entertaining. Which should be the point, right?
37 Responses to “Who Wants 40-homer Lock Adam Dunn?”
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February 5th, 2009 at 2:06 pm
I agree. He strikes out a bunch, but gets on base and has a ton of power. I don’t know why someone hasn’t signed him already. Maybe he is looking for a longer term deal, but he can still hit the hell out of the ball when he actually hits it.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Shouldn’t the headline read “Who wants a 200-strikeout lock in Adam Dunn?”
February 5th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
I believe you mean Roctober
/Rockies don’t want him either.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
The Mets piss me off. They have a new ball park a 400 million dollar rights fee and they’re content going into Spring Training with an outfield made up of Carlos Beltran, Ryan Church, Fernando Tatis and Dan Murphy. Bad economy or not the Mets are going to be swimming in money.
Give me an f’n break. Not signing Manny, Adam Dunn or Abreau is pennywise and pound foolish. I’m close to giving up on baseball when your team has money, won’t spend it and then when they do spend it, spends it on Oliver Perez and Tim Redding.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
I would love the O’s to grab him just for the enjoyment of watching him pepper the wharehouse, although I don’t think it would be a great move.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I have heard his name mentioned around the watercooler down here in Bravos land.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:15 pm
Come on now, the Pirates just signed Eric Hinske. How much money do you expect them to spend?
February 5th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Don’t forget, he sucks on D.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Don’t forget, he sucks on D.
All the more reason he would be a perfect DH.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Dunn makes no sense to the Pirates. they need to play the young guys to see if there’s anything there. winning 75 games instead of 70 but not knowing whether moss or mccutheon can play really doesn’t accomplish much.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Ten million dollars.
Sincerely, Matt Morris
February 5th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Who wants career .247 hitter and 180 Ks lock Adam Dunn?
/fixed for accuracy.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Which has happened a grand total of zero times in his career.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I’ve got no numbers to back this up, but I’m willing to bet he swings at the first pitch more than anyone in baseball.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
As long as he doesn’t return to the Reds, I’m fine with wherever he goes.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I’d take that bet.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Not so fast NickP – you must not be familiar with the work of one Brandon Inge.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I’d be taking the other side of the bet, I mean.
You don’t have one of the better OBPs in the league by going up there and hacking.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Last time I saw stats on it, the OBP for first pitch swings was higher than the overall league wide OBP
February 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Threadjack
Calzaghe retires.
End Threadjack
February 5th, 2009 at 2:42 pm
Would you believe 190?
February 5th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Come on now, the Royals just resigned Zack Grienke. How much money do you expect them to spend?
February 5th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Not a baseball stats freak, so I’ll defer on that assesment. I’d still want him in LA BUT I’d like to see him around better hitters.
BTW, he’s Plan B if Boras and Manny don’t come to their senses. Your line-up can survive one Pedro Cerrano, but not two.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Gotta love The Big Donkey’s HR power. You definitely have to watch when he strolls (and I do mean strolls) to the plate.
His bobblehead from last summer’s Reds’ 80’s (that might be a record for consecutive apostrophes) night is a classic.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
I don’t see Dunn signing until Manny gets his deal. After ManRam gets his $, I think the top 3-4 corner outfielders will quickly get deals. It’s a domino effect.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
Angels should sign him, IMO.
February 5th, 2009 at 2:56 pm
I would love to add him to the Astros, but they really need pitching. Desperately need pitching. Desperately need a respectable farm system. If you haven’t guessed, I’ve nearly stopped caring about a team that’s going in the hole for the next 4-5 years
February 5th, 2009 at 3:01 pm
VY..he has not spot in Houston if Lee and Berkman are playing
Nick and I have gone around and around on this but if the Tampons are not willing to sign Manny which makes more sense than anything I have ever seen..if they can get the fat strikeout machine to bat behind Delgado for a resonabel price I would do it
/I hope Dunn likes my salespitch
February 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Irish- Magic just traded Bogans to Bucks for Tyron Lue and Cash. Do you like?
February 5th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
How old is Dunn? He seems to have the body type where the numbers can drop in a hurry. I wouldn’t go long-term, but a one year deal would seem like a good idea if the price is right. Also, who cares if he hits .250 if he is getting on base and hitting dingers.
February 5th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
the Crew need another lefty bat, but we already have 3 OF’s.
February 5th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I do not understand the big deal with his strikeout totals. He hits for power, he walks a ton, and he has a good on base percentage. Why is striking out any worse then someone who hits a ton of ground ball outs? At least when you strike out, you are not grounding out into a double play. And the whole thing about being apathetic towards baseball is ridiculous. It is a 160 game season. Who wouldn’t look apathetic at times?
February 5th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Dunn’s only 29.
February 5th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
If my team needed some power, and had a spot open, I’d be pissed if they didn’t even try to sign him. You can never have too many runs.
February 5th, 2009 at 3:46 pm
For those of you arguing against his strikeouts, why is that a bad thing? He strikes out a lot because he goes deep into counts and takes a number of pitches. Except in certain situations, I would rather have a guy take 7 or 8 pitches to strikeout than have him ground out after two pitches.
The strikeouts viewed negatively are generally a sign of indiscipline. With Dunn, that is hardly the case.
February 5th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
If Ryan Howard can get paid for swinging at any pitch, then Dunn should have already been signed.
February 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
If the White Sox can trade Dye (as they’re trying to) I’d much rather see them sign Dunn than Abreu. Put Dunn in left, move Quentin to right..then Dunn takes over at DH next year when Thome leaves.
Not to mention, he’d hit 50 bombs playing at the Cell.