[Foxsports.com] Dunn to Houston? http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/3727904 Ken Rosenthal The Reds will trade outfielder Adam Dunn only if they receive a top young pitcher in return. Few teams will be willing to part with a potential Josh Beckett or Kerry Wood, but if the Reds play this right, they could make a franchise-altering deal. Dunn, 25, isn't a free agent until after the 2007 season, so his value might be at its peak. Any team that acquires him would get two-plus seasons of his prodigious power, albeit at arbitration-inflated increases from his current salary of $4.6 million. Any team that acquires Adam Dunn would get two-plus seasons of his prodigious power. (John Grieshop / Getty Images) Dunn's rising salary likely would scare off teams like the low-revenue A's and budget-conscious Braves, but the flip side is this: Young power hitters are in even shorter supply than young power pitchers, making sluggers like Dunn an increasingly rare commodity. The Astros naturally have interest in Dunn, who is a native of Houston. They could put together a package of Class AAA right-hander Ezequiel Astacio, second baseman/ outfielder Chris Burke and outfielder Jason Lane – a high price, to be sure, but likely the kind of deal that the Reds would require. Of course, Dunn isn't the only hitter available. The Astros also could attempt to acquire the Devil Rays' Aubrey Huff with the idea of playing him at first base and moving Lance Berkman back to left field. Or, they also could renew their pursuit of Mets outfielder Mike Cameron, though the emergence of rookie Willy Taveras has lessened their need for a center fielder. Some other possibilities for Dunn: Cubs: Imagine a 3-4-5 of Derrek Lee, Dunn and Aramis Ramirez at Wrigley Field. The Cubs might not have a can't-miss prospect, but their depth of their young talent is so vast, perhaps they could overwhelm the Reds with a three- or four-player package, including major-league pitchers like Sergio Mitre and Todd Wellemeyer. Cardinals: No question, they need a young corner outfielder – right fielder Larry Walker is 38, left fielder Reggie Sanders is 37. But outside of Class AAA right-handers Anthony Reyes and Adam Wainwright, they don't have much to give. The Cardinals might prefer to trade a veteran pitcher like Jeff Suppan to clear payroll, replace him with Reyes or Wainwright and use the savings to get a lesser outfielder. Orioles: The Marlins targeted Baltimore in the A.J. Burnett talks because of their interest in right-handers Daniel Cabrera and Hayden Penn – young pitchers with above-average stuff. The Orioles' biggest need is pitching, but they could give the Reds a similar package to the one proposed for Burnett – Cabrera or Penn, reliever Jorge Julio and outfielder Larry Bigbie. Dunn in Camden Yards would be frightening. Indians: The Giants' Moises Alou would be a perfect addition, cementing the middle of their order. However, Alou is unlikely to leave his father, Giants manager Felipe Alou, and Dunn actually is a better solution, given that he would fit nicely with a young, emerging team. The problem is price – the Indians probably wouldn't want to take on Dunn's salary and give up a pitcher like left-hander Cliff Lee. Dodgers: Class AA right-hander Chad Billingsley probably is untouchable, but the Dodgers possess one of the deepest farm systems in the game, both in pitchers and position players. They could send left fielder Jayson Werth back to the Reds as part of the package. Or, they could keep Werth and play Dunn at first base. Yankees: A package starting with Chien-Ming Wang would be intriguing, provided the second player was second baseman Robinson Cano or Class AA third baseman Eric Duncan. Dunn could be the Yankees' long-term solution at first base – or in left field if the team does not re-sign Hideki Matsui, a potential free agent. More Inside Dish The expected return of third baseman Chipper Jones around the All-Star break could put the Braves in position to trade shortstop Rafael Furcal, assuming the team was willing to use Wilson Betemit at shortstop in a pennant race. The question is, which team would want Furcal? Most of the contenders are set at shortstop. The White Sox, next-to-last in the A.L. in on-base/slugging percentage at short, are more focused on pitching, and could be one of several clubs that pursues right-hander Jason Schmidt. The Phillies are again shopping Class AAA first baseman Ryan Howard, but their asking price is exorbitant, according to rival clubs. One general manager indicates that the Phillies want three players for Howard, who is unproven as a major-league hitter and a potential liability at first. The prospect of outfielder Gabe Kapler returning from Japan to join the Red Sox is remote, at least at the present time. Kapler, playing far less than expected with the Yomiuri Giants, wants to rejoin the Sox, but the momentum for his return has stalled. Senior writer Ken Rosenthal covers baseball for Sporting News. Email him at kenrosenthal@sportingnews.com.
I would love for us to get Dunn, but I don't want to give up Lane or Burke. I would offer them Buchholz, Astacio, and someone else.
Nothing really new in this article. That's giving up a lot for Dunn (Burke, Lane, Astacio). Astacio keeps tearing it up in the minor leagues, he is a beast there. But in the MLB, he was a completely different player. Burke has had a rough time in the MLB, but in the last month has seemed to turn it around. His batting % is going up. Lane, still has that potential. He has enough strength to generate a lot of pop with the bat..... I know all I did is state the obvious, but hey. I was trying to see if it was worth it, and well. I would love to have Dunn on our team, but not for that price.
If we got Dunn for Lane, Burke and Astacio it'd be highway robbery, no way the Reds are stupid enough to do that. On the other hand, I didn't think they'd sign Eric Milton to a big deal sooooooooooo........ Just for fun: Chris Burke was born March 11th, 1980. Adam Dunn was born November 9th, 1979. Zeke Astacio was born November 4th, 1979 Jason Lane was born December 22nd, 1976.
Are these people crazy? "I want Dunn but I dont want to give up Lane or Burke" .... lmfao... please ... that'd be the greatest theft in American History if we got that deal.
I'd give the Reds Zeke and Lane but not Burke. If we got Dunn, we could really make a run at the Wildcard. Personally I think it is a piep dream but I do know some guys who went to school with Dunn and they sadi that he wants to play in Houston badly.
I am with you on it being unlikely the Reds ship him. I would not want to give up Burke or Lane for Dunn (I probably would give up one of them if it was on the table) and I doubt the Reds would really want them. I'm thinking they would rather have someone like Hunter Pence from the minors. I think the Astros would probably rather lose a top prospect who's at least a couple years away from majors than someone in majors.
this team needs a bat. i wouldn't want to give up lane AND burke...but i'd sure as hell consider it. i would be likely to give them either lane OR burke. frankly, i'm not sure i prefer one of those guys over the other.
Buccholz is pitching very well. He's building up arm strength right now from his shoulder injury. If it wasn't for that he might have been called up instead of Wandy. He should be ready for the majors next year. I would not trade him for Dunn.
I wouldn't want to give up Lane and Burke. I'd offer Lane and Astacio along with a lower prospect. Burke is starting to play better and will be needed at 2B soon.
That was my thought, too. I can give up one or the other, not both. Perferably, it would be Lane that goes.
Its called myopia. Lane is 28 years old, people act like giving him up is giving up a top prospect or a young guy just waiting to break out. When you look at it objectively, he's a throw in.
Not one person has said they wouldn't give up Lane. It's the entire rumored package that some don't like. Like it or not, Lane is on pace for 30 HRs, and that's with a month of not going squat.
I know its the entire package and its a fair deal. All three of the guys rumored in the deal are unproven. Lane on pace to hit 30?, Dunn on pace to hit 50. And considering you don't have to give up any pitching except a guy who was sent back down, a hitter who has done nothing all year, and a 28 year who may finally be coming into his own, this deal is more than fair. A nucleus of Endsberg, Dunn, and Berkman would be a great future for this team.
Would the 'stros 'overpay' to get a local kid? What might others teams' interest in him be? Will Cincitucky insist on a 'bad' contract accompany Adam to his Dunn-stination? When will Cincitucky pull the trigger on this deal, if at all?
Dunn is a poor contact hitter and always seems to strikeout when runners are on base. Edit: Dunn is hitting .185 with runners in scoring position this year. Last year he struck out 195 times in 568 at bats. This year he's already at 82 K's in 251 ABs. That's unacceptable. http://sports.yahoo.com/mlbpa/players/6763/situational?year=2005&type=Batting
I agree that if we can give up non-pitchers Burke and Lane instead of someone like Backe, I'm all for it. Dunn with a healthy Berkman (and Ensburg) sounds really nice to me. Do it! Evan
