MySports Today

Two MLB signings to report:

Adam Dunn signed a 2-year, $20 million deal with the Washington Nationals this week. He is set to make $8 million during the 2009 MLB season and $12 million during the 2010 MLB season. Current Nationals GM Jim Bowden drafted Dunn in 1998 when he was with the Cincinnati Reds, and Dunn will be reunited with former Reds teammate Austin Kearns. Dunn is valuable because he can play first base or the outfield. During the 2008 MLB season, Dunn had a .236 batting average with 40 home runs, 100 RBI’s and 164 strikeouts. Dunn has hit 40 or more home runs in 5 straight seasons. During his career, the 29-year old Dunn has a .247 batting average and a .381 on-base percentage. Dunn led the National League in walks in 2008 with 122. Dunn has also hit 278 career home runs and driven in 672 career runs. His left-handed power-hitting bat will be warmly welcomed in Washington, DC where no Nationals player hit more than 14 home runs or had more 61 RBI’s during the 2008 MLB season.

On the other side of the country, Bobby Abreu came to terms on a 1-year, $5 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. What a coup for the Angels! $5 million for a player of Abreu’s caliber – unbelievable. Although Abreu is getting older, he is still a force to be reckoned with. During the 2008 MLB season with the New York Yankees, Abreu hit .296 with 20 home runs and 100 RBI’s. He also had a .371 on-base percentage (he has a career .405 on-base percentage) and continues to be one of the more patient players in the game. Abreu can also still steal bases – 22 in 2008 and 25 in 2007. Abreu is expected to split time at Designated Hitter and in the outfield with fellow teammates like Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, Juan Rivera and Gary Matthews, Jr. During the 2008 campaign, Abreu became only the 3rd player with 200 career home runs, 200 steals and an on-base percentage greater than .400 (he joined Barry Bonds and Rickey Henderson).

With Spring Training starting in some camps today, there are still some free agents floating around. I’m sure we’ll be hearing some more players signings in the upcoming weeks. We’ll keep you posted here at MySportsToday!

It doesn’t look like the Dodgers are going to sit around and wait for Manny Ramirez to make up his mind if he wants to keep playing for them. Sources say the team has contacted Adam Dunn to express interest in the power hitter. Dunn who has had 40 home runs a year for the last four years would be a good addition for the team since no Dodger has had a 40 home run season since 2004.

The Dodgers are not the only team looking at Dunn, it has been reported that the Cubs have been on the top of Dunns list of teams he wants to play for. That is until the Dodgers got into the mix. This could be bad for the Cubs since the team that has been swept two years in a row in the first round of the post season has not made any real good deals yet. With the Cubs raising season ticket prices when most teams are not fans are going to be looking for them to do more this year. Dunn will most likely require a no draft-pick compensation because Arizona former team did not offer him arbitration.

No one really knows why Manny has not been signed yet, expect for Manny. If I had to guess, the only reason one of the best hitters in baseball does not have a deal yet is all because of Manny. There must be something keeping teams from flocking to him to hand him a lot of cash. Could be all that stuff that went on in Boston before he was traded to the Dodgers? As a MLB team would you take a $100 million shot on him?