It’s August, and Adam Dunn is still a Washington National.
I’m not surprised, but I suspect a lot of fans might be, given the perceived amount of interest in the Washington first baseman. GM Mike Rizzo set the price extremely high, and when you look at it from the inside out, you understand why.
Dunn projects to be a type-A free agent. Should he walk away and sign elsewhere, the Nationals — or whatever team might’ve acquired him — would receive a compensatory pick and a sandwich-round pick. So essentially, you wouldn’t have just rented Dunn for two months, you would’ve gotten a pair of picks for the future.
As for the deals actually made by Rizzo, he’s to be commended for both. The Twins’ deal — which sent All-Star closer Matt Capps to Minnesota for catcher Wilson Ramos — brings the Nationals two things (not including minor league pitcher Joe Testa): a solid catch-and-throw guy with an extremely high ceiling, who’s basically major league-ready; and insurance in case Jesus Flores’ recovery from shoulder problems continues at a snail’s pace.
I spoke with at least eight scouts from various teams right after the trade was made, and every one labeled the Nats as the clear-cut winner. “Capps has done a solid job, no question,” one said. “But to get an everyday catcher with that kind of arm is hard enough on draft day, much less a deal like this.” Fact is, the Twins had been reluctant to deal Ramos unless there was a major return coming back to Minnesota. When they kicked the tires on Cliff Lee before Lee was dealt to Texas, Ramos was the player the M’s coveted most in the potential transaction.
Sending Cristian Guzman to Texas for a pair of minor league arms gives the Rangers a temporary fill-in at second for the injured Ian Kinsler, and gives Guzman a shot at his first postseason since he played for the Twins. He exceeded the Nationals’ overall expectations this year, and likely will embark on a utility role once he hits free agency this winter. The longest-tenured Nat, Guzman had an uncanny ability to put the ball in play, and while you rarely heard a play-by-play guy say “Guzman waits out a walk,” he had a pretty solid run with the bat.
Adam Dunn may yet re-sign with the Nationals; that’s his preference, and the open preference of most of his teammates as well. At 31 (in November), he’s still young enough to be a part of the team’s future and make a run at 500 home runs in Washington. But his value to the franchise exceeds simple home run totals. He enjoys being here. And on a rebuilding franchise, that counts for something.
Phil Wood is a contributor to Nats Xtra on MASN. Contact him at [email protected].
