4
2009
Adam Dunn Was The Way To Go, And Still Could Be…
An article by 
I’m not going to draw you into another one of my diatribes on how the Mets needed to go after Adam Dunn last off season. I wasted too many words on my pursuit of Adam Dunn in the off season, and countless more words expressing my disappointment when he ultimately signed with the Nationals.
When Jon Heyman and Ken Rosenthal confirmed that Adam Dunn could change teams again, I held out hope that the Mets would finally get Adam Dunn before the trade deadline. Especially when they had Cory Sullivan holding down the fort in leftfield while Sheffield was on the DL. But of course, even that scenario wasn’t enough to get Omar Minaya to react.
Last October, I devoted my very first blog to Adam Dunn (the first of many). One of the things I mentioned was that at age 28, he was about to enter his prime years and that he still could improve offensively. That has proven to be the case as Dunn enjoys his best season ever at the plate with a .280 batting average, the highest in his career, along with a .407 OBP, .563 SLG and an astonishing .907 OPS.
He is on pace for his sixth straight 40+ homerun season, and his sixth straight 100+ walks season. Both are incredible achievements. Given his age and his homerun pace, he may hit his 500th homerun before his 33rd birthday. Wow…
The Mets will try and have you believe that Citi Field is responsible for the power outage of the 2009 Mets. Don’t you believe it for one second. Just ask Mark Reynolds or Chase Utley or even our own Daniel Murphy. The Mets futility in homeruns is 100% attributable to the lack of legit power hitters in their lineup.
The Mets do not have a true power hitter who can muscle one out of the park with one mighty swing of the bat. Wright and Beltran are not your prototypical power hitters. Carlos Delgado was the Mets’ one true slugger, but he won’t be back in 2010 which begs the question; who will carry the load for the Mets in 2010?
A better question is, who will play leftfield and first base for the Mets in 2010?
Here is a look at just how prodigious a power hitter Adam Dunn is.
The Mets are beginning to show signs of parading Angel Pagan to us as our new everyday left fielder. Nothing official yet, but remember that you heard it here first. Pagan of course, hit his first homer in two years just a few days ago; a grand slam to beat the D-backs. The same GM who convinced us that Dan Murphy would be the everyday leftfielder in 2009, has his sights set on proclaiming the same about Pagan for 2010, just wait and see. Of course, observant Mets fans know all to well that Pagan is just a solid fourth outfielder at best.
The Mets may have another opportunity to erase their egregious error in judgment this past off season. They can make amends by taking action and pursuing Adam Dunn with haste if he is placed on waivers by the Nats as is expected. Considering where the Mets stand, they may be in a good position to make a deal for him if the Nats truly want to get what prospects they can for him.
I thought it was pretty ironic that Baseball Reference has Darryl Strawberry listed as the number one ranked similar batter to Dunn from ages 25 through 28. Or maybe it’s just a good omen?
Lets not forget that Dunn is also one of the most durable players in the game, having averaged 158 games played in his last five seasons. He has played in 105 of the Nat’s 106 games this season. That’s something that should be very appealing to the Mets these days.
Does Dunn have his faults? Of course he does, who doesn’t? But I can assure you that he’d be a better defender in leftfield than Daniel Murphy ever was, and that he’ll strike out a tad bit more than David Wright, but with a heck of a lot more homers (29-7) that would have resulted in a dozen less one-run losses, if not more, had he been here from the start.
He won’t win you any gold gloves out there, but he gives the Mets a better chance of hoisting another World Series flag over Citi Field, than Fernando Tatis, Angel Pagan and Cory Sullivan ever would.
Look, it may be too late to salvage the 2009 season. But adding Dunn now would be a good first step toward putting out a much more improved offense in 2010, especially in the power department.
About the Author: Joe DeCaro
Went to my first Mets game, a Mayors Trophy game at Shea, in '73. We beat the Yankees 8-4 and I was hooked. I marched in two Banner Day parades, and before the Grand Slam single, there was the "Hendu Can Do" grand slam - I was there. I've collected Mets memorabilia all my life and started Mets Merized Online to feed my addiction.
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Ryan Howard strikes out just as much as Dunn does and nobody ever complains about him. This season, Dunn is better than Howard across the board and will strikeout less than him. Ask Mets fans if they’d want Howard and they’ll be drooling all over themselves, ask them about Dunn and they’ll ignorantly point to his strikeouts like a bunch of brain dead fools. I’ve argued for Dunn many times to my friends, but it’s like beating a dead horse. At least now they realized what idiots they were for believing we needed to give Murphy a full season in leftfield and not sign anybody.
We definately should’ve got Dunn; Even people who belive in OBP etc, like him, actually are the ones that like him the most. Good article, Joe D, and hopefully we get Dunn. One thing though, you have a typo: his OPS is .970, not .907. .970 is astounding.
It is so true what you said about Pagan. When he hit the grand slam, I though it just gave the wilpons the opening they needed to proclaim him the everyday left fielder and not have to spend money on the position in the off season. You’ll see that grand slam a thousand times in Mets commercials and highlight clips on SNY. As for Dunn, I hear what you’re saying but I’m still not sold on him. Can’t we go after a Ryan Braun or something along those lines?
Why would the Brewers trade Braun? These kind of suggestions are worthless. Why don’t we go after Longoria, too? Teams, especially mid to small market teams don’t trade cheap, young talent, the horde it.
I am starting to become very concerned with how much more I am finding myself in agreement with you this season. Either you’re getting smarter or I’m getting dumber. Dunn is a no brainer for this team unless they plan on shortening the fences and bringing them in so that Beltran and Wright can become significant again. The thing I like about Dunn which you didn’t mention, is that we can use him at first base too. Had we signed Dunn for leftfield in the off season, he could have immediately taken over for Delgado when he went down, and Sheff would have taken over in LF. We wouldn’t have missed a beat and would have won a boatload more of games. I’m glad you made mention of the one run losses the Mets have. That number is staggerring and an extra 29 homers would have definitely made a difference. Nice read.
I was a supporter of Dunn, but I’d prefer him at 1B than in LF. The truth is that he could still have massive power even at Citi, and gives the Mets a 40 HR presence. Of course, the Wilpons aren’t going to add payroll, so the argument is moot.
How is his defense at 1B? I wouldn’t mind seeing Dunn play there, then the Mets going out and getting a LF, one that might be a little on the cheaper side. I think either way, the Mets HAVE to get a legit powerbat in the lineup for next season and beyond. And to me, Dunn fits that to a tee.
Since he will be 30 after the season, and will finish the season with around 320-325 HRs, he’d have to average nearly 60 a season to hit 500 before he’s 33. And he’s a worse 3rd baseman than an outfielder, which is saying something. In 141 games at 1st he’s committed 20 errors. Ouch.
That should read 1st baseman, not 3rd baseman.
CAPSLOCK=DISABILITY ACCOMODATION
PROBLEM #1, HAVING ALREADY DEALT JOHNSON TO FL, WHAT’S NATS’ INCENTIVE TO DEAL DUNN? DON’T THEY NEED A 1B FOR ’10?
PROBLEM #2, DUNN SIGNED FOR LF NOT MUCH OF DEFENSIVE IMPROVEMENT OVER MURPH ESP IN VAST CITI. SIGNING HIM ON SPEC WOULD’VE EATEN OMAR’S REMAINING BUDGET OF 162M(LUXURY CAP) HE’D ALREADY COMMITTED 149M APPROX 14M GAP LEFT FOR EVENTUAL ROOM FOR HOLIDAY OR HALLADAY TO FIT. HINDSIGHT IS ONE THING THAT’S USUALLY 20/20; BUT TRY TO REMEMBER WE HAD A HR HITTING 1B ALREADY ON ROSTER & WERE TOO L LEANING. NO ONE COULD OR SHOULD HAVE PREDICTED DELGADO’S DEVASTATING INJURY SINCE MOST PREVIOUS ONES WERE HAND & UPPER BODY RELATED. OUR BIGGEST ISSUE NOW IS WHO PLAYS FIRST NEXT & IT BETTER NOT BE MURPH THE POTENTIAL F/A POOL IS PATHETICLY SHALLOW:
Player Club
First Basemen
Russell Branyan SEA
Carlos Delgado NYM
Jason Giambi * OAK
Ross Gload * FLA
Aubrey Huff BAL
Nick Johnson WAS
Adam LaRoche ATL
Robb Quinlan LAA
Matt Stairs PHI
Mike Sweeney SEA
Jim Thome CHW
Chad Tracy ARZ
WE BETTER PRAY DELGADO’S REHAB STINT MOVES FROM PORT ST. LUCIE TO LOURDES. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS THAT OMAR WILL NOT PURSUE THE WINNING TYPE, NON-CORE LEVEL FILLER PLAYERS THAT ARE NOT TYPE-A’s, IF HE GOES AFTER A TYPE A IT BETTER BE RESTRICTED TO A STRONG #2 SP.
DOES ANYONE ELSE THINK WE’RE VICTIMS OF A PETERSON BID FOR JOB SECURITY WITH ALL THE HEAD CASES WE’RE LEFT WITH AFTER HE CULLED OUT THE BEST NON PETERSONIZED ARMS? I’VE NEVER, EVER SEEN SUCH A MOTLEY CREW OF TALENTED, WEAK MINDED SP IN MY LIFE & I’M ALMOST 60. PELFREY, MAINE, PEREZ ARE ALL TALENTED WITH VOIDS IN CONFIDENCE & CONCENTRATION. SVENGALI LEAVES & THE PROTOGES ARE ZOMBIESQUE.
Too bad uncle Bernie made off with all the money. Dunn just makes too much dough. Be realistic and think more along the lines of a Mike Sweeney or Russell Branyan to play first base next year. Sorry to disapoint!
Sweeney or Branyan?? I know things are bad, but I don’t believe they are that bad.
Probably worse than that! You think we can get Sweeney or Branyan? Think again, not gonna happen! The only thing we’re going to get is what comes out of Buffalo. And you can see what that’s doing for them!
Good article. This is one more good idea in a forest of good ideas, none of which will be used by the Mets. Dunn would have been a great add earlier; he will be a great add now. Even if the Nats were to hand him over for Figueroa and Berroa, we still wouldn’t take him. So it’s all moot. We’re working our way towards the Cellar. That’s the reality for the Mets.
Weren’t you guys “all-in” on Murphy before this season? I read nothing but praise and excitement for him. Now he’s cast to the side of the road.
I’m not saying I think he has a future with the Mets (he doesn’t, atleast not as a starter) but we need to exhibit some more patience and decrease the “what have you done for me lately” stuff. Every hot streak is met with thunderous applause and hype. Every cold streak is met with overreacting “he’s done” type stuff.
My preference was to trade him for Holliday in November…
I believe that a package of Daniel Murphy, Jonathon Niese, Scott Schoeneweis and Eddie Kunz would get it done. The Rockies would get two major league ready players in Murphy and Schoeneweis. Murphy could eventually become a suitable replacement for Holliday, and in Niese and Kunz, the Rockies get the Mets’ best prospects at starting pitcher and closer. Schoeneweis helps fill their off season goal of acquiring a lefty specialist for their bullpen.
If the Mets were to add Holliday, and then sign Brian Fuentes to close, and Derek Lowe for the rotation, it could be the perfect solution to challenging the Phillies next season. Omar can then bolster the bullpen with a couple of new arms and get a few pitchers to compete for the number five spot in the rotation in Spring Training.
Holliday would be a good start to an ambitious and successful off season for the New York Mets.
http://metsmerizedonline.com/2008/11/wouldnt-matt-holliday-solve-a-few-problems-for-the-mets.html
In October, (the link is in the blog) I called for Dunn for leftfield. I never accepted the bunk Omar dished out as far as Murphy for left field. Those are just specific blogs, it don’t count all the blurbs I made about it all off season.
Once the season started I had to support the move, he was out leftfielder and that’s all I could do as a Mets fan. But EVERY chance I got I mentioned Dunn, Ibanez or Abreu as missed opportuinites.
Considering what the Rockies got for Holliday, the package you outlined above is not even in the ballpark of good enough to get him. Schoeneweis and Kunz stunk (and still do) Murphy was unproven and not a top prospect, and Niese projects as a solid but unspectacular type pitcher. The Rocks got Huston Street, Greg Smith, and Carlos Gonzalez. This blows your Mets package out of the water. Let’s not be ridiculous.
Schoenweis was traded to the diamondbacks for connor robertson in the offseason! Don’t you pay attention before you make stupid comments?Even if he were still on the team nobody would make that Dumb Trade!
Mo Reese – Maybe you should pay more attention. The post was written in October.
James – When I wrote this back in October, it was because the Rockies wanted Schoeneweis. There were several rumors and even one that said Omar turned some sort of deal down.
Niese back then was the number two prospect in the organization behind F-Mart, and Eddie Kunz was number five. Dan Murphy was the hottest thing since sliced bread, so much so that Omar deemed him untouchable because he was tired of fielding calls about him. A month later he would be proclaimed the everyday leftfielder even before spring training came around.
A lot has changed since then so I think it’s unfair to say the deal I proposed was ridiculous. As for what they got, I think you are overestimating and looking at Street after the fact.
When Street was traded he had lost the everyday closers job, 5 mph off his fastball, had the highest ERA of his career 3.73. His k/bb ratio went from 5.15 to 5.25 to 2.36 in 2008. Gonzalez is batting barely .250 hitting only in favorable platoons and playing half his games in Colorado.
Additionally, Jon Niese was ranked 72 last offseason by Baseball America, and neither of the two prospects you cited were in the Top 100.
By the way Niese was ranked 45 on Sickels list, and Murphy was 65.
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/top-100-prospects/2009/267701.html
Now I don’t know how we ended up here, but all I was trying to say was that I never rode the Murphy express.
Looking that trade in retrospect maybe the Rockies did get a better deal, or maybe not. It’s still to early to tell. Murphy certainly looks better than Gonzalez, and Niese better than Greg Smith who is struggling in AAA. And after this season Huston Street is a free agent unless the Rockies are willing to pay him 10 million plus for 2010. Don’t count on it.
So if you dont think he has a future as an everyday player, why should we be patient with him? Be patient until he further proves he isnt one? That makes absolutely no sense.
If we all agree that the season is over, why not put Murphy back into left field. He can get more experience under his belt so he can possibly play there next year.
Let me be very clear. I can’t stand Adam Dunn. The guy is like a statue out there, he has no mobility whatsoever. It’s more plausible to put him at first base, but no way should we get him as our leftfielder. I also think you unfairly knocked Angel Pagan who I see as a potential five tool player .280 – 15 HR – 80 RBI – 20 SB. There is nothing wrong with that kind of output and he’s above average defensively.
Did somebody invent some new tools? Pagan has never hit more than 5 HR in a season. His career RBI high is 21. He’s never stolen more than 10 bases. And he’s never hit .300. Unless you are counting “recovering from injury” as a tool, how do you see him as a potential 5 tool player ? I like Pagan, don’t get me wrong, but the guys played barely over 200 games in 4 years. This is his 4th year, so it’s not like he just got called up either. Pagan is a good bench player on most other teams.
Adam Dunn was not the answer for 2009, nor 2010. Next year should be Murphy at first, Castillo at 2nd, Sullivan/Pagan in Left, and a guy in a coma in right. Of course the question was “how can the Mets put a worse team on the field than the previous year?”
Fire Omar, fire Jerry, trade Perez, trade Reyes or Beltran for type A players (hello Boston?) and get Dunn for LF/1B. Mets in 2010.
I agree that the Mets should get Adam Dunn, but it also means that they have to keep Beltran around as well as Francouer. Since you will be giving up left field defense by getting Dunn, you need to have those other two in order to make up for that deficiency. I have been reading in other blogs that suggests giving up Beltran for pitching, prospects, etc and that won’t work if you have a lumberling LFer like Adam Dunn
How about saving the prospects and doing this
c – V-MART
1b – d. murph
2b – castillo
3b – wright
ss – reyes
lf – BAY
cf – beltran
rf – francouor
sp1 – santana
sp2 – beckett/lackey
sp3 – pelfrey
sp4 – niese
sp5 – perez(unfortunAtely)
Bullpen
parnell
pedro
putz
stokes
k-rod and whoever
good luck with that. The Mets have no money left, and you expect them to get players of this caliber. Not happening.
Act of god? Maybe if we don’t act stupid we could atleast get bay and lackey
Are the Red Sox known for “random acts of human kindness”? How are we supposed to come up with Vic Martinez, Bay and Beckett? Groveling won’t do it.
The guy we should trade for is Theo Epstein….
Good article Joe, I’ve made no secret that I wanted to see Dunn play for the Mets. He’s shown he can hit balls out of Citi when he’s played against us. He would also be batting cleanup, hopefully behind Wright and he would protect Wright at the plate. If this season has shown us anything is that without a good power threat behind Wright he’s very vulnerable.
[...] D of Mets Merized Online believes ‘Adam Dunn was the way to go, and still could [...]
Surely, Washington will be looking to trade Dunn since next year is the last year of his contract. They clearly have no problem trading within the division, as they’ve done it many times over the past few years.
Delgado will not be a Met in 2010 so the Mets will need a lefty power hitter. Plus, he’s younger and cheaper than Delgado. He could replace Delgado at first base and has some versatility by being able to play the outfield, which is something Delgado could not do.
I would not be disappointed if the Mets traded to get Dunn in blue and orange.
Dunn would have been able to supply some of the power that this team desperately needs in the lineup. We know that this team is more of a Stolen Base style offense, but you still need to have at least one guy in your lineup who can hit the long ball. Imagine Wright, Dunn, Franceour, Sheffield as our 3-6 in our lineup. That is very formidable, no it may not be the best in the league, but it would be good enough for a play off push. Dunn would be blasting them into the Pepsi porch, he is a UFA this offseason, maybe a new GM would bring him in.
The only question I have with Dunn is his defense, it is awful, and in Citi Field I am not sure he would work out well in the outfield. Again though, I think his power is what this team needs, he may not be my first choice for the LF spot, but if the Mets got him in the offseason I would not be upset.
I think you meant Dunn, Franceour and Beltran. Sheff has had a nice year, but any OF that he’s playing in cannot be considered “best in the league”. Not in 2009 anyway.
Good call on Matt Holliday Omar. Another guy we probably could’ve gotten that would have been a huge help. Oh yeah, he’s a Coors Field product who’s only hitting .309 with 14 HR and 65 RBIs. We’re much better with our platoon of Gary “DH” Sheffield, Fernando “1999″ Tatis and (insert random Double A journeyman name here) . With Omar at the helm, our future is bright !!! Isn’t it about time to give Delgado that 6 year extension ?
The Mets will not get Dunn or any other Mlb caliber player this year or next.Even though I agree with the post I know better because The Mets never go that extra mile to put out a Winner.So with that said Here’s you Reality check.The 2010 Mets, 1.Reyes 2.Castillo 3.Wright 4.Beltran 5.Francoeur 6.Murphy 7.Pagan 8.Santos- Rotation-1.Santana 2.Pelfrey 3.Perez 4.Niese 5.Maine.No Met fan who pays attention would think otherwise,Freddy and Jeff Coupon will strike Again!