M’s Interested in Dunn, Burrell

by ~ December 3rd, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Ever since the Arizona Diamondbacks declined to offer arbitration to Adam Dunn a few days ago, I’ve been thinking that he’d be a nice pickup for Seattle.

He’s adds a lot to the Mariners lineup, basically being a much better version of Seattle’s latest acquisition, Russell Branyan.  He’ll only be 29 next season and the market has been weaker than expected for him, making him a potential bargain, especially now that he doesn’t cost draft picks.

Dunn has possibly the best blend of raw power and plate discipline on the market, as he’s been good for 40 homers and well over 100 walks in each of his last five seasons.   Seattle hasn’t had anyone capable of hitting 40 homers and drawing 100 walks since Alex Rodriguez did so in his last season with the Mariners.

According to Fox’s Ken Rosenthal, Seattle is interested in the slugging left-hander.  We’ll keep an eye on it.

Update – I forgot to tie this in, but in that same Rosenthal article Seattle is mentioned as a team interested in free agent Pat Burrell.

Burrell could be considered a right handed version of Dunn.  He’s known for his power and walking abilities, and infamous for his awful outfield defense.  That said, he doesn’t have quite as much power and doesn’t draw quite the number of walks as Dunn does, and his being right handed is a disadvantage playing at Safeco Field.  He’s also older.

Like Dunn, Burrell wasn’t offered arbitration, so he will not cost his new team draft picks.

I’m not much of a Burrell fan, but he would probably help Seattle from the DH or 1B position in 2009.  If it came down to one or the other I would rather go for Dunn, or even someone like Bobby Abreu (who is also rumored to be on Seattle’s radar).

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  • http://marinermelee.blogspot.com/ Mariner Melee

    The only reason I don’t see signing him is that he is terrible in the outfield and signing him would just land us another 1B/DH type (Branyan, Clement, Morse, LaHair)

    If they are planning on moving Clement for pitching and dumping LaHair or Morse, then I am 110% behind this move.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    It’s solved pretty easily. Dunn to 1B/DH, Clement to 1B/DH, Branyan to bench or OF, Morse/LaHair gone.

    Bad players (Morse/LaHair) shouldn’t affect what players you go after.

    Still, Dunn is just someone they’re checking in on. Got a way to go before it’s serious.

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    Is there anyone worse than Ibanez in LF?
    Mike Morse isn’t necessarly a bad player but you’re right he shouldn’t affect whether or not we sign a player of Dunn’s caliber.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    I’d kill for this signing, money pending. I’m not convinced that Dunn is going to get a huge contract, which is why I would love for this move. Dunn is everything the Mariners lack – raw power and plate discipline.

    Gotta believe that being left-handed is only going to help his cause too. DH also, could this get better?

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    could this get better?

    Well, yes. Seattle could make a legitimate attempt at signing Dunn, rather than just expressing interest.

    Dunn was said to be looking for a massive contract towards the end of the season, but the market has slowed down enough that ESPN’s Jerry Cransik has heard that offers could be as low as 3 years/$36M. That would be a helluva bargain.

    $12M.. Richie Sexson was getting $15.5M.

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    Yeah and he’s in his prime, LH which fits Safeco well. And he’s just plain better than Richie was.

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    Pat would be ok if we can snag him for cheap/1-2 years

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    ^I suppose, but I would rather put my faith in Branyan and Clement at the 1B and DH spots. I don’t like Burrell for this team. He’d be basically a second Sexson signing, except Pat is older than Sexson was and doesn’t have as much raw power. Plus, Sexson was still a boarderline defensive asset in his first year with Seattle.. Burrell wouldn’t be no matter what position he played.

    I wouldn’t be interested in Dunn under normal circumstances. I like him, but Seattle doesn’t really need to be getting under any more big contracts. But if Dunn can be had for 3 years or less at a “discount” rate, then I’m all for it. I wouldn’t dare give him 4 years though.

    Also, Burrell wouldn’t sign a 1 year deal with Seattle, or he would have to be really stupid to do it. He wouldn’t want to enter free agency next offseason after one year of playing at a park that eats right handed hitters for breakfast. Bad career move.

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    Yeah me too Dunn would be great. I agree 4 years is too much for Dunn. I think we gave Richie 4 years and look where that got us.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    DMZ just posted at USSM talking about the same thing:

    http://ussmariner.com/2008/12/03/adam-dunn-gets-you-to-two-problems/

    He wouldn’t pursue Dunn at all. I would still risk 3 years at low money. If he ends up getting more than 3 years as originally expected, you move on. If he ends up getting the annual salary originally expected, you move on. But if the market for him manages to stay flat, I still think he’s worth taking a chance on.

    Yeah, there’s a shot he falls flat on his face like Sexson did, but I think Dunn’s got 3 more good years in him. Burrell, on the other hand, is a few years older and will almost certainly fall on his face, especially playing in Safeco and in the pitching dominant American League.

    Basically: Yes on Dunn, but only if the market stays how it is (short and “cheap”). No on Burrell, at all.

  • http://myspace.com/tr1ckz pmbaseball7

    Exactly, I think Richie was 31 or something so I’m sure Dunn at 29 could give us 3 productive years. And hopefully by that time Halman and Saunders will be ready to replace him. (If he plays outfield where apparently scored surprisingly high on USSM on some defense stat, but he’ll suit better as DH/1B)

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Jon Shields

    I wouldn’t play Dunn in the outfield at all. Yes, he was better than Raul last year (according to +/-, PMR, RZR.. whatever), but that’s not saying much. Neither one of them has any business in the outfield.

  • http://bleedingblueandteal.com Dustin Shires

    I know me and Jon talked about this online, but Pat Burrell would be a terrible idea on every level possible. Worst defensive left fielder in baseball, and right handed power. Both of which are a recipe for disaster…