GM meetings underway; Nationals looking to add power to 2009 line-up
With the General Manager Meetings under way in Dana Point, Calif., Nationals GM Jim Bowden will look to add a power hitting bat to the 2009 line-up.
The biggest name that appears to be on the Nationals radar is free-agent outfielder/first baseman Adam Dunn. Dunn was drafted by Bowden, then with Cincinnati, in the second round of the 1998 First-Year Player Draft and three years later was the Reds best power hitter.
In 2001, Dunn's rookie season, he hit 19 home runs and drove in 43 in 66 games. Over the next seven years, he has averaged 37 homers and 90 RBI. Dunn also sports a career .381 on base percentage, not bad for a power hitter.
Last year Dunn made $13 Million playing for the Reds and Diamondbacks. Are the Lerner's willing to shell out the amount of money it will take to sign the 6'6'' left-handed power hitter who is looking for a long-term deal? That remains to be seen.
A few other names that have been thrown out are free-agent first baseman Mark Teixeira, Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder and Rockies left fielder Matt Holliday.
Realistically, the only one I could see joining the Nationals would be Dunn, but does he want to play in DC and where will manager Manny Acta play him? First base or left?
He is somewhat of a liability in left and if Austin Kearns is healthy, the outfield is set with Kearns in right and Elijah Dukes and Lastings Milledge in left and center, respectively. First seems to be the best case scenario because of the health issues with Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young.
Holliday earned $9.5 Million in '08, Fielder $670 K and Teixeira $12.5 Million. Fielder, who is up for arbitration, will get a huge raise from the Brewers, is he doesn't leave. He has put up Ryan Howard type numbers and Howard was awarded $10 Million last season, up from $900 K.
Teixeira will want a deal in the $100-$150 Million range and I don't think the Lerner's will spend that much. Holliday is an outfielder and unless the Nationals plan on moving one of the youngsters, he just doesn't fit.
I personally would love to see any of those guys in a Nationals uniform, but not at the expense of breaking the bank and hurting the future of the franchise. Let's face it; a power hitter isn't going to turn the Nationals into the 2009 version of the Tampa Bay Rays, but it will put extra people in the seats.
Stay tuned to see if Washington makes a move at the GM Meetings.
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