Adam Dunn Is A Bust

There was a lot made of Crawford's struggles, yet a guy that hasn't got hammered as much as he probably should is Adam Dunn. Coming into the year I thought this guy was a lock for 40+ HRs, and we going to make the White Sox offense one of the best in the league. Yet, he hasn't even come close.

As of today Dunn is batting an anemic .181 with only five home runs scattered amongst 69 strikeouts, and it's not like it's getting any better as he 2-for-22 with 11 strikeouts and one home run in his last 7 games. I have been thinking that eventually he would turn it on, but tomorrow is June 1st, and I have seen nothing that makes me think he is going to turn it around.

Maybe it's just being part of the White Sox, as that entire team is just one giant disappointment. Danks is still winless and might be losing his spot in the rotation, the bullpen is horrid, and as of today the White Sox are 8 1/2 games back on the Indians for first place in the AL Central. That's pretty bad for one of the teams I thought would be challenging for best record in the AL. You have to wonder how much longer Guillen will keep his job.

Adam Dunn Has Emergency Appendectomy

"Tough break for the White Sox as it’s being reported that Adam Dunn had an emergency appendectomy this morning. He apparently fell-ill last night after the Royals-Sox game (NBC Sports)."

The good news here is that this is the less severe surgery then a lot of other appendectomy surgeries. Word is that he could be back in a little less then a week. I think Dunn is in for a huge year. He has a lot of protection in this lineup with Quentin, Konerko, Rois, ect. Dunn has been on a tear already this year hitting .571 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs, so hopefully this time off doesn't throw him off his current hot streak.

Mark Teahen is the likely replacement to replace Adam Dunn at DH while he recovers.

Baseball News

Adam Dunn and the White Sox reached a deal to land the power hitting DH to a four-year $56MM deal. Dunn has hit 38 or more homers in each of the past seven seasons. He boasts a career .250/.381/.521 line with 354 home runs in ten seasons. Few players are as durable as the 31-year-old, who has appeared in 150 or more games in eight of nine seasons since becoming a regular. MLBTraderumors

BMack says that Paul Konerko is going to land in Baltimore as they will give him an absurd deal, but I still think there is a shot he stays. Dunn is an awful fielder and can't play 1st base every day, so if the White Sox were smart they would either come out with a statement soon saying they are moving on with Konerko and going with the youngster Dayan Viciedo or resign the veteran. It will be interesting to see how Dunn will do the in the AL, but it's not like he's an average guy anyways so it could translate smoothly.

Also,
Mo Rivera signed a 2 year deal worth 30 million dollars with the Yankees.

See Jeter, this is how you get overpaid with class. Rivera is one of the best closers that has ever lived and signed an appropriate deal with the Yankees. I think with Rivera signing the deal, this only puts more pressure on Derek Jeter to sign quicker.

Tigers Getting Close To Signing Adam Dunn?

"Adam Dunn is moving closer to a deal, maybe with the Tigers, tweets Joel Sherman of the New York Post. SI's Jon Heyman tweets that Dunn and the Tigers are in serious talks, but big man is not close to an agreement with any team. The powerful left-handed slugger is known to be among Detroit's targets. He could fit as their regular left fielder, perhaps getting the occasional start at DH or first base. The Tigers have been aggressive so far this offseason, and to secure Dunn this early they'd probably have to guarantee four years (MLBTradeRumors)."

From everything I have been reading the Tigers are being very aggressive, and in a way I really hope they get him, because it could cut down their chances at signing V-Mart. I'm sure you've noticed at this point that all the writers for DC are in agreement that one of the biggest offseason things we want to see happen is to have V-Mart back in the Sox uniform. You just don't get production from the catcher position like V-Mart can produce.

Dunn would be a good signing too. The Tigers having him and Cabrera in the middle of that lineup would be terrifying, since Dunn is almost an automatic 40 HRs year in and year out.

Adam Dunn Placed On Waivers

The Washington Nationals put Adam Dunn on Waivers, who will clearly draw interest figuring he was the "prize" of this years trading deadline. The White Sox, Rays and Tigers are all rumored to have interest in the slugger.

I'm not a Adam Dunn guy, and I don't really see a huge difference between him and Nick Swisher or Carlos Pena. He's a boom or bust guy and in the AL he's only going to face stiffer competition. Is he worth to take a flier on when it comes to the White Sox, Detroit or any offensively challenged team? Absolutely. But I don't see him as a premier guy, but I've been wrong before.

Adam Dunn More Likely To Be Dealt

The Nationals have said from the beginning that if they can resign Adam Dunn that would be their preference, but as the trading deadline looms closer, and still no extension odds are Dunn will be traded soon. The White Sox and Rangers are known to have interest in Dunn, who is a free agent after the season.

There are rumors going around right now that the Nationals could be in talks with two other clubs about a three-team trade that would send Dunn to the White Sox and Edwin Jackson to Washington.

Of all the team the White Sox seem the most likely. Texas is in flux with new management, and they really can't be spending much more money now that they have Cliff Lee until the team is sold. Plus, Dunn just seems to fit the White Sox mold, it would be like having Thome back in his prime.

So yea, my bet is Chicago.

White Sox Make Offer For Adam Dunn

Nationals GM Mike Rizzo said over the weekend that he has not received any appealing trade offers yet for first baseman Adam Dunn. Maybe that's because Rizzo has set the bar way too high, but reports have come out that White Sox GM Kenny Williams spent the last few days trying desperately to land Dunn, offering up "anyone and anything he has in the minor leagues in a package."

The reported offer is Daniel Hudson and/or infielder Dayan Viciedo along with a couple lower level prospects. From what I am reading today the Nationals want even more then that. I think this is just the Nationals wanting to make sure they hear every offer before making a decision, because if they were able to get Daniel Hudson and Dayan Viciedo they should jump at that in a heart beat. I say that because all reports indicate that the Nationals have no chance at resigning Dunn. Also, I believe Hudson is going to be a hell of a pitcher (especially if he goes to the NL), and if you believe DP then Dayan Viciedo is going to be nasty too.

Adam Dunn Getting Looks From W. Sox and Angels

According to mlbtraderumors.com (great site about baseball shit) Adam Dunn is being shopped and the White Sox and Angels seem to have the biggest hard on for the slugger.

Why is this relevant to anything we should care about? Well because the Red Sox were said to be interested in him earlier. But the Red Sox will be a unique team during the trade deadline because they don't really need much when healthy. I'd probably like to add a big OF bat, but that most likely won't happen. The Red Sox when healthy have a set team, but the M.A.S.H. unit we have been playing has been surprisingly well and even though I hate to give credit to Tito, he has been managing great. And here is my bold statement: IF THE RED SOX MAKE IT PAST THE FIRST ROUND IN THE PLAYOFFS THIS YEAR, I WILL NEVER SAY A BAD THING ABOUT TITO....EVER.

BMack is a square.

Nationals Sign Adam Dunn

"The Washington Nationals and Adam Dunn have agreed to a two-year contract, according to multiple reports (ESPN)."

Haven't got word on how much the contract is worth, but this really shows how dry the market is. In my opinion, Dunn should have waited, because whoever loses in the Manny sweepstakes between the Dodgers and Giants would most likely make him an offer. Now Dunn is going to waste another 2 years of his life in a hopeless franchise. The Nationals are at least 3-4 years away from making any kind of noise, but at least they have a name they can try to sell to the fans. Still, if he is having a good season I could see a team trading for him before the trade deadline this year.

**UPDATE** SI is reporting 2 years $20M.

Hot Stove

As you know this year's off season is filled with questions regarding Mark Texeira, Manny Ramirez, CC Sabathia as the big names. Personally, if I were a GM I wouldnt want any part of the latter two "big ticket" names. Before you start thinking that I am retarded let me enlighten you on why. Manny, I just plain dont like him, he is a great player but is a selfish prick and would be a detriment to any team he plays on. Now, CC is a proven stud based on what he did for the Brew Crew last year, but come on this guy is eventually going to break down.

The point of this article is not to highlight the big names, but the other free agents and/or deals that could be difference makers in the up-coming season. The list consists of position players of the likes of Orlando Cabrera, Orlando Hudson, Bobby Abreu, Adam Dunn, and Edgar Renteria. I love both Orlando's because they are spark plugs at the top of the order and are solid defensive presences in the feild. It would be crazy for the White Sox and the D-Backs not to retain them. Bobby Abreu is a solid player who produces solid at bats and is a true grinder at the plate making opposing pitchers work for the out. Adam Dunn, he truly is a donkey, he has possibly the most power of any left handed hitter in all of baseball other than Ryan Howard, but this guy either hits a HR or strikes out. Although this is the case he would be a solid player on a good team that could afford his strike out per at bat ratio. He reminds me of a young Jim Thome, he has power and could drive in runs if he had the complementary players that got on base for him and he walks and strikes out a lot.

As for pitchers, you have A.J. Burnett, Ryan Dempster, Derek Lowe, and Ben Sheets as the other top pitchers out there. Personally, I think A.J. Burnett is a poor mans Josh Beckett who has not lived up to the potential and has underutilized his ability. With that said I personally believe that he will be heading to the NL where he can take advantage of only having to get 8 outs against sub par hitting. The team that will sign him, in my opinion will be the Cards, which will put them back at the top of the NL Central and will give them stability to completment the pure force of Albert Pujols. Ryan Dempster is an interesting pitcher, he has experience both starting and closing, but I am not convinced he will be worth the money his will end up getting this year. More than likely he will probably end up in a Cubies uniform, however I feel that he is nothing more than a 3rd starter but will put up numbers because the NL sucks so much. Ben Sheets has nasty stuff, but gets hurt way to much, he reminds me of Matt Clement because he just cant stay on the feild. But with that said, he is worth the risk of any team that signs him because of his number one starter stuff. I feel he will end up in the AL possibly in Baltimore, New York, and I would love to see him sporting a Red Sox uniform. With that said, Derek Lowe is the most intreguing free agent of them all. Hate him or love him, he is a solid starter and has the post season experience that teams desire. Its been said he wants to come back to Boston but I feel the Sox wont make that happen because they already has Justin Masterson, a young D-Lowe in the making. So, my feeling is that he will be a Detroit Tiger next season, pitching with a chip on his shoulder to prove that he still is a valuable pitcher.

Now the needs of the Red Sox have had me thinking a lot lately after seeing all the rumors that have been reported. All I know is that Lugo has to be moved to allow Lowerie a chance to prove himself as a full time player for a whole season. Despite how terrible he has been in Boston, much like Edgar Renteria a few years ago, I feel that he is one of those players that just cant play in the lime light. The good news is that there is a market for SS this year, with teams like the Tigers, White Sox, and others in need of one. My feeling is that no team is going to take a chance on him until spring training to see what he has after the injury pleagued season he had last year. Any deal including Lugo would be for a shitty prospect or another high priced contract that has not panned out. With that said the Tigers are probably the best suiters in any deal because of the apparent washed up D-Train. I just don't see how Dontrelle has gotten so bad so quickly, and I do believe that he will regain his form and become the exciting young pitcher that he once was.

The second issue is what to do with Coco. Should he stay or should he go? I believe that its time to go, not because he wasn't good last year, but because of his value at this point. I believe that he will be dealt in a situation that will include a young catcher such as one of the 3 in Texas or Jeff Clement of the Mariners.

D-Backs Get Adam Dunn

The D-Backs traded for Adam Dunn today in exchange for three prospects. The Reds are to reload for future seasons, as they have already traded Griffey. The D-Backs are in a fight to make the playoffs, and really just needed a bat. So, they went out and got the guy with the most HRs in the MLB, Adam Dunn. I really like this trade for the D-Backs, since they already have so much pitching, and this move could be the thing to put them over the top. There is really a good chance that this team will not only go to the playoffs, but should be in the hunt for the World Series. We all know it comes down to pitching, and the D-Backs have just that with Randy Johnson, Brandon Webb, Dan Haren. This is a very dangerous team.

-BMack