Adam Dunn signs LTC

by JD Arney on Feb 13, 2006 10:19 PM EST in News

I just keep getting more and more excited about the new owner/GM:

Adam Dunn has agreed to a two-year deal with a club option for 2008. Dunn will get $7.5 million this year, $10.5 million in 2007 and $13 million if the option is picked up. The buyout of that year is $500,000.

Great terms, great player, great deal. Things have finally changed in Cincinnati.

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Dunn

Is he signed for more stability in trading terms or are we keeping him? Krisky Creme or the Krivskinator?

"It can't end like this. Tell them I said something."-Poncho Villa

by sukr on Feb 13, 2006 10:24 PM EST reply actions

I think Wayne Krivsky Stinks

Oh wait, that was yesterday.

Hopefully all those ready to fire him over the weekend will relax and enjoy the prospect that this team may become a real franchise again in the very near future.

It's a good feeling to be excited for baseball

by Brynhoe on Feb 13, 2006 10:59 PM EST reply actions

yeah!

much better news than a trade.

by Dubman on Feb 13, 2006 11:02 PM EST reply actions

maybe

There still could be a trade, and we'd probably get a better return.

by Blue on Feb 13, 2006 11:48 PM EST up reply actions

Krivsky Creme

As in the Creme rises to the top. This ROCKS!

by RedEye on Feb 14, 2006 12:12 AM EST reply actions

Anyone really think the Reds will hang on to Adam for that 3rd year? $12 million was a lot of money in 1999, and the Reds still never came close to signing anyone for as much money as they pay Griffey. And it looks as if they are eyeing 2008 to be that time. It took 9 years for the Reds to "commit" to that much . . and even that is an option year.

by Brian B on Feb 14, 2006 12:34 AM EST reply actions

The Option Year

I think the third year is a club option and according to Marc, it get's voided if Dunn is traded:

Was not able to get in touch with Adam tonight, but I did speak with his agent, Greg Genske, a little earlier. He provided one detail in particular that you'll probably find interesting: The 2008 club option is voided if Dunn gets traded.
"Adam was willing to commit one of those free-agent years to the Reds, and not to any other team," said Genske.
In addition, Genske said that $13 million option actually could grow to $16 million with incentives. He was at dinner and didn't have the specifics on hand, but said they were award-based. That usually means bonuses for winning an MVP and/or making the All-Star Game.

Incentives aren't always laid out in the best fashion for the player, but if it gets to $16 million, that's not a bad pull for the first year of free agency for a player.

"No matter what happens, someone will take it too seriously."- Dave Barry
Reds (and Blues)

by Slyde on Feb 14, 2006 7:18 AM EST up reply actions

"the ski" comes through...

i'm sure we can all agree this is a good indication of where the caliber of management of this club is headed.

however, i just spoke with my brother on the phone and we came up with an interesting scenario. notice that dunn's salary for this year of the contract is pretty much the reds arbitration asking price--the money is not rolling in, and dunn didn't sign for the security of a two year contract (a two year contract provides about as much security as using a piece of twine as a bike lock).

i have a feeling that we will see an outfielder traded this week, and i have a hunch that part of dunn's signing might have been an assurance that his butt-buddy... i mean best-buddy... ak would be hanging around.

so the question is what kind of pitching could we get for wily mo at this point, or, alternatively, who would be willing to roll the dice on grif?

disclaimer: i understand that this idea may sound absolutely idiodic, but thats the kind of thing that starts to rumble around in you mind after reading contracts and constitutional law for 9 hrs.

by BobbyO on Feb 14, 2006 12:35 AM EST reply actions

law

you studying for the Feb bar exam, or are you a first year law student?

by Brian B on Feb 14, 2006 12:37 AM EST up reply actions

first year

by BobbyO on Feb 14, 2006 12:45 AM EST up reply actions

Since you brought it up...

notice that with the option year, Dunn and Kearns will be FAs at the same time.

by Blue on Feb 14, 2006 12:42 AM EST up reply actions

Trade Mo

If I agree with you, that makes me idiotic, right?
I could see them trading Mo. It would make the most sense with the Hatteberg signing. Please God, let that make sense. If they traded for young arms that get to marinate in Louisville for a year, Cruz may get the open roster spot. Now that was idiotic, but hopeful.....

"It can't end like this. Tell them I said something."-Poncho Villa

by sukr on Feb 14, 2006 1:42 AM EST up reply actions

Where's Michael?

If he posts, it's guaranteed to generate about 20 more.

Don't mind me...just pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Feb 14, 2006 11:14 AM EST reply actions

Michael

Did you see that he posted the other day?

http://www.redreporter.com/story/2006/2/12/135119/380

(scroll down)

by Brian B on Feb 14, 2006 4:35 PM EST up reply actions

Yep.

That's why I thought it would be fun if he posted something in this thread, since it seems pretty unlikely now that Dunn will be traded. No such luck so far, though.

Don't mind me...just pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Feb 14, 2006 6:23 PM EST up reply actions

Let Mo Go? No!

Do you guys really think we should trade Wily Mo? I mean, doesn't anyone else get the sense that he is Sammy Sosa waiting to blow up? All I know is that every time I make it to GABP, Pena is banging doubles off the wall by accident. His power potential is tantalizing, plus he can run like the wind (albeit not always the right way).

I know, I know, he struck out like 150 times in 300 AB's last year. But the guy is only 24 years old and he's improved a lot over the past few seasons even while following a less-than normal developmental routine at the major league level. I have to think that it would be cost effective for us to watch him for one more season--he's not expensive and he really could improve his value over a full 500 plate appearances. If we trade him now, we're not going to get much of anything (my guess is the top end would be a package like we got for Randa... two pitchers who are not yet major league caliber).

I say we try to get rid of Griff this season and if that doesn't work then we wait out AK and Mo. They've got nowhere to go but up, both of them, and we can get more later!

by RedEye on Feb 14, 2006 11:38 AM EST reply actions

I think your on to something

Whether you are right or wrong, I suspect that WK is not going to move on either player in the spring or early summer. The team we now see is most likely the team that is going to hit the field on April 1, and that fine with me. It just doesn't make any sense to trade any of this team right now.

The guy who is likely to get the most in return (Dunn) is set in place, (good thing)

The next three (Kearns and Pena and Lopez) are not going to get top caliber players in return. Everyone else is at the lowest possible value except mayber Griffey, who isn't going to be traded.

This team is going into this season ready to be a ridiculous offense. The pitching is going to be okay (my guess) as Milton and Wilson show up as major league pitchers again. Come july, if the team you now see is below .500 but either Kearns or Pena is producing, then we'll see some serious moves to bolster this team through the next few year. Also, I imagine that the drafting this year will be very impressive

by Brynhoe on Feb 14, 2006 12:10 PM EST up reply actions

Kriv's genius?

The more I think about this deal, the more I like it. I almost tend to think it is better than a 5-year, $60 million given the present financial situation and roster. Here are some good arguments, some of which have been posted on RedsZone and here:

The Reds get Dunn in '06 for the price they wanted
Dunn gives up his potential windfall free agent year in '07
Dunn remains a Red for at least two years, but then has a way out if he feels that ownership is not living up to the 'we want to win now' mantra
The Reds keep Dunn for two more years, but they have a way out in case he regresses and turns into a latter-day Dave Kingman (as the pessimists suggest)
Kriv has a much more attractive bargaining chip just in case teams (Houston?) are still interested for Dunn because they don't have to worry about
The Reds front office finally puts some money on the line, suggesting that they have a 2-year (rather than a 10-year) plan for rebuilding
Dunn has some incentive to keep impressing with his stats since he's got at least one big deal to go (rather than the potential lack of incentive in a 5-year $60 million deal)
Dunn is up for a new contract right as Griff rides into the sunset

Anyone got any other ideas?

by RedEye on Feb 14, 2006 1:45 PM EST reply actions

Free agency

Dunn actually wouldn't be a free agent until 2008. So the option covers his first year of free agency, but it is voided if he is traded. So, number 5 isn't completely true.

Other than that, you've touched the high points.

"No matter what happens, someone will take it too seriously."- Dave Barry
Reds (and Blues)

by Slyde on Feb 14, 2006 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Whoops

the 6th reason should read "Kriv has a much more attractive bargaining chip... because other teams won't have to worry about impending free agency in '07"

by RedEye on Feb 14, 2006 1:46 PM EST reply actions

Long Ball Lovers

Relax long ball lovers. Yes, I admit when I first learned the news I nearly collapsed. And when I read Krivsky's words something along the lines of "I don't care where he plays as long as he's in the lineup...." well, I spewed out graham crackers and orange juice.

However, after further consideration, a couple points some already raised:

-Dunn and agent basically caved regarding this year. 7.5M is only "save face" higher than Reds asking price
-Dunn is now a known commodity regarding $$$. If there is a team out there that has an appetite for strikeouts this contract is not off the charts. He still could be traded.
-No team will ever pay Dunn the 13 mil on that final year. Not the Reds not anyone.

It does appear however (unfortunately), barring a very compelling trade offer, Dunn will at least be with Reds till trading deadline. This is not good news but it is the reality.
- - - - - - - - -

If not going to trade Dunn, here's to hoping they trade Kearns. Trading Griff makes no sense because you won't get anything for him - better off holding griff and hope he stays healthy and produces.

So that leaves Kearns because one thing is for sure the trio of Dunn/Griff/Kearns = losing. It has for 4 years in a row. We don't need a 5th. They'll have alot of laughs, slap alot of fives and lose. One of those 3 has to go.

Enough with the Homeruns and Strikeouts

by MichaelRed on Feb 14, 2006 7:35 PM EST reply actions

From Rotoworld:

"With the possibility of a 50-homer season looming, Dunn was foolish to sell his first year of free agency for $13 million, especially when there are teams like the Red Sox and Astros out there that will appreciate his OBP more than the Reds do. And Cincinnati will someday regret not taking this opportunity to lock Dunn up to a true long-term deal. Dunn is just 26, and while he doesn't have much in the way of defensive value, he's probably going to be one of the game's top-10 hitters for at least the next half dozen years. Five years and $60 million would have been perfectly reasonable for both sides."

by Brian B on Feb 15, 2006 12:58 PM EST up reply actions