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Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy is in his 36th year of covering the Cincinnati Reds, the longest tenure for any active writer covering one team. Counting spring training and postseason games, McCoy has covered more than 7,000 major-league baseball games, written close to 18,000 baseball stories and eaten enough hot dogs to give Babe Ruth indigestion.Home > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2008 > August > 12 > Entry
Does Dunn want $125 million?
So Adam Dunn wanted a $125 million contract? That’s what outspoken Reds pitcher Bronson Arroyo said Dunn told his teammates before he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Wanted. That’s the key word. Wanted. Who out there will give him $125 million? Maybe somebody, but I don’t know who.
Arroyo said, “He made it clear to us in the clubhouse that his asking price was $120 million to $125 million. Do you think this franchise would pay that?”
No, I don’t. And as much as I like Adam Dunn, I don’t think he’ll get it. Maybe the Cincinnati Reds should have talked to him, see what it would have taken to sign him long-term.
What he said in the clubhouse and what he might accept could be mightily different. We’ll never know because Reds GM Walt Jocketty won’t talk contract during the season. It really would have been nice to see what Dunn would have taken to stay in Cincinnati.
I believe it is less than $125 million.
Earlier this year, Arroyo said that if the Reds traded him, they were giving up, throwing in the towel, not really wanting to win. Arroyo remains, but Ken Griffey Jr., Dunn and David Ross are gone.
Now how does Arroyo feel?
“The same. If they keep the pitchers they have now we’ll be all right,” Arroyo said. “I think they’ll go out and sign some hitters. If we didn’t have Dusty Baker as manager I might be concerned. But I’m not.”
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Comments
By Tim
August 14, 2008 12:23 AM | Link to this
I assume he’d be the first hall of famer to never once have been an all-star ever in any season in his entire career. What an asinine comment.By Mike-Cinci
August 13, 2008 4:15 PM | Link to this
Who knows if the $125 million comment from Dunn is true or if Arroyo or Dunn were just joking. My prediction is some team will sign Dunn in the off-season for 3 years at $35-$40 million with a 4th year mutual option. It won’t be the Reds.By disgusted
August 13, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
B***h all you want about Dunn but he handled his business like a Professional should. I didn’t see him on the news or Baseball Tonite bad mouthing and acting like an idiot. First of all it’s a job. If you were a millionaire for doing what you like to do, would you agree to change jobs if you didn’t want to? Especially if someone else is willing to pay you more across the street to do want you want. How does that make you not a team player? Would you clean the toilets at work because your boss said it would help production even though you were schooled,comfortable, and hired as an engineer. Don’t hold him to a higher standard because of his paycheck. No-one cried when he hit homerun after homerun for the Reds. Typical player haters from Cincinnati area. Good luck Adam Dunn, thanks for stopping in, we’ve enjoyed watching you play, for the good and the bad. We all don’t hold it against you. I’m surprised Baker has anyone left that wants to play for him. Reds will not have a winning season as long as Dusty is there!By Steven Ross
August 13, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this
Reds win, but Dunn still haunts former teammates.” Uh? Please! We’ve excercised the Dunn demon. That makes no sense. Hal, you’re a HOF-er and I respect the heck out of your writing prowess but Duun’s gone, let’s get over it.By Brarhopper
August 13, 2008 10:26 AM | Link to this
P.S. Hal, I’m a bit baffled. Just read your article with the headline, “Reds win, but Dunn still haunts former teammates.” I don’t see any evidence of hauntedness in there at all. Arroyo mentions the Dunn big fat contract desire, but that’s really the only mention of Dunn in the article. What? Huh?By Brarhopper
August 13, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this
Let me get this straight. Dunn is a lousy fielder. He was asked to play first and didn’t want to. He is a general defensive liability. He wants $120 million. Someone says he’s a sure HOFer based on his HRs nly, being that he’s a 1-dimensional player. Wow, who would want to sign that kind of contract with such a shallow talent and non-team attitude? If all this is true, it certainly gives me pause & I better get why he was dumped.By michael
August 13, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this
A doomsayer I am not. I am very optimistic. I agree that Dunn should have been at first. He didn’t want to play there, which makes him a non team-player and now he is gone. I like Valentin at 1st, and I agree with you on that as well. I don’t know it all, but I know as much as you.By wizard
August 13, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
The only reason Dunn did not work at first is because the Reds did not demand he play there!Absolutely, he isn’t worth that much money—no one is! You doomsayers know it all,don’t ya? Wish I had all the answers. What I have said will work—within the Reds budget.By michael
August 13, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
The Reds did try Dunn at first and it doesn’t work. Dunn is not worth that money. Valentin is not the answer at 1B, but he is the best we have this year. He can hit and he has proved that.By Stuttgart Tim
August 13, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this
Reds Authority, Many PTBNL are announced after the season. I imagine this is one reason why. Whether it’s Nats or someone else, I don’t know. But, does it really matter if we get the PTBNL now or in time for Spring?By Pete
August 13, 2008 8:57 AM | Link to this
Dunce may get his huge contract, but he’ll prove like many others that it’ll be a huge mistake on a team’s wallet because all he wants IS the huge contract. So he definitely WON’T be in Arizona next year. And no, he won’t get into the HoF unless he pounds a million HRs. Valentin had a nice game last nite. News fer ya, Wizard…. he ain’t the answer @ 1st nor the future. He’s gotta go, too!By Ridnaway
August 13, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
Adam Dunn in the hall of fame? Bahahahhahaaaaa. Toss me that thar vomit bag.By Tom
August 13, 2008 7:22 AM | Link to this
Dunn probably meant that it would take that much money to stay with the Reds. I can’t imagine any of the players that want to win are happy to be in Cincy. The owner’s philosophy of win now and in the future is a nice thought but, I wouldn’t pay two cents to watch the current squad. They are my team and I wish them well but, I’m moving on to football in 2008.By b
August 13, 2008 12:11 AM | Link to this
Maybe that moron Texas Rangers owner who gave A-Rod $252 mil for 10 years (back then) would be the guy Dunn’s agent should call…both Texans…can’t hurt. $125 for how many years? Didn’ say. still, that just too much for a 1-dimensional player IMO.By Martha
August 12, 2008 10:38 PM | Link to this
OK, the Pirates are … the Pirates. But that was a nice win for the Reds tonight, nonetheless. I also saw something I hadn’t seen in a while - smiles. At first, they were hesitant and little more than grimaces. But the players started to relax and the grins became contagious. Maybe it was my imagination, but I also sensed that this was a team that finally came out to “play” now that the bullies had retreated to Arizona and Boston. It may not last. It may have been a fluke - two called-up rookies getting their first MLB hit in their first game together. But it was a great ride tonight. Thanks, Redguys.By Reds Authority
August 12, 2008 10:30 PM | Link to this
My sources also tell me that because of Bowden’s final gouge of the Reds, Arizona now plans to pull Owings off waivers, forcing the Reds to have to wait until the end of the season to get him. REMEMBER: YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST! —Reds AuthorityBy Reds Authority
August 12, 2008 10:25 PM | Link to this
BREAKING: My sources tell me the Reds have run into a roadblock when it comes to 1 of the 2 proverbial “players to be named later” with regards to the Adam Dunn trade to Arizona. Word is that Micah Owings was 1 of the 2. However, REDS AUTHORITY has learned that Owings did NOT clear waivers and was claimed by Jim Bowden of the Nationals. Call it “one final torment” of the Reds from Bowden before he loses his job as GM of the Nationals. —Reds AuthorityBy Mr. Redlegs (Original)
August 12, 2008 10:17 PM | Link to this
Dickerson will not be an everyday MLB starter and you’ll see this within 2-3 weeks.By Mr. Redlegs (Original)
August 12, 2008 10:14 PM | Link to this
The day Adam Dunn gets into the Hall of Fame with a .240 career average is the day they take voting away from the BBWAA. Dunn will have to hit 600 to go into Cooperstown without paying admission. What player are you watching?By wizard
August 12, 2008 9:35 PM | Link to this
Anyone see Valentin’s nice play at first in 8th? Dusty are you watching? Votto to right, or left? Dickerson is going to be OK. Can run, too.By bigdoc
August 12, 2008 9:22 PM | Link to this
A Dunn’s first AB as a D-back——swinging K! I predict 2 Ks (one taking) a walk, and a 2-run dinger!By wizard
August 12, 2008 9:14 PM | Link to this
I pretty much agree Buckfan, except I did see Dunn try to go to left a lot more than Griffey did; so as to try to get basehits when his team needed it—as the shift provided openings on that side—although neither of them did it enough to suit me.By Buckfan69
August 12, 2008 8:21 PM | Link to this
Frankly, I wouldn’t care if we could have signed him at his current level. He may be a nice guy but he’s a one-dimensional player who’s able to hit homeruns but doesn’t make contact nearly enough, plays poor defense, and can’t run. The teams of the mid-70’s never had a guy hit 35 homers a year, but they won 100+ games with so-so pitching because they played the game. Losing Dunn and Griffey can only help this team get going in the right direction. Lose Baker and bring back McKeon and we’ll be getting somewhere!By wizard
August 12, 2008 8:20 PM | Link to this
And, if the Reds had moved Dunn to first base—as I suggested early in the season—he could still be here playing.They didn’t—now he is gone—but guess who is going to play Adam at first base some this year—Arizona!Votto can play left field—and May still do so. I also said a while back, and recently, that to have Valentin’s bat in the lineup, I’d play him at first, also; because, again, Votto can play left, or right. Now, we can play Bruce in center, Dickerson left or right, and Votto right or left, with Valentin at first. He isn’t as flashy fielding as Votto; but he’s adequate—and most important he adds a great deal to the offense. In addition, the outfield looks good defensively. Watch for Valentin to play more—homerun tonight!By Mark in Sun Valley
August 12, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
The only consolation I had the last few years watching the Reds was knowing I was getting to see a gold glove second baseman and 2 future hall of famers. I did say two, because mark my words, in 6-7 years when he rolls over the 500 HR mark, he will be punching his ticket to Cooperstown. His game has some holes, and he’ll probably not get 125 million, but some team will be very happy to benefit from his power and gentle clubhouse manner. I’ll miss seeing him in a Reds uniform.By Mike
August 12, 2008 7:53 PM | Link to this
If the public will pay $7 for a beer and $7 for a brownie at GASP..there is somebody that would buy Dunn..sad but true.