I think most Cubs fans (but not all) would be very happy if the Cubs were to sign Adam Dunn to play first base next year.
Just a few weeks ago, it looked like Dunn was set to become a free agent this off-season and leave the Nationals…but yesterday I read that he thinks it is likely he will stay in Washington next season.
Well, crap.
Does this mean the Cubs don’t have a shot at him? No, but the Nationals will probably have first dibs on giving Dunn and extension. It is likely he will still make it to the free agent market before that extension is done, though.
Dunn’s numbers have been fairly consistent over his career. This season he has 35 homer and 93 rbi, and an OPS of around .900.
You can say all you want about Derrek Lee and how good he was, but Lee was a very inconsistent player at the plate…Dunn’s production has been relatively consistent for years. You pretty much know what you will get from him over the next 3 years, if the Cubs were willing to sign him to a deal of that length.
With Dunn publicly saying, now, that he expects to return to the Nationals, the Cubs need to figure out plan B at first base very quickly. There are a number of other first basemen out there including:
Lance Berkman
Paul Konerko
Lyle Overbay
Carlos Pena
And on top of that, many people think the Brewers are going to look to trade Prince Fielder this offseason as well.
Internally, the Cubs could bring back Xavier Nady or move Tyler Colvin to first. A year ago, I would have even floated the idea of putting Aramis Ramirez at first base, but there is no one to replace him at third, so that’s out.
This will be the Cubs #1 need this offseason. Hopefully they don’t screw it up like other #1 priority solutions in the past (Soriano, Bradley, Fukudome).
