Nats Sign Adam Dunn

Now, for some pleasant news from the world of baseball: The Nationals have signed Adam Dunn. (Doug McKinney of Comcast SportsNet broke the story on his blog here)

Dunn's deal works out perfectly for the Nats. It's being reported that it is a two-year deal, worth 20 million dollars a year. The salary seems fine, and the length is exactly what Nationals fans wanted. By the time his contract is up, top prospects Michael Burgess and Chris Marrero will be ready for full-time MLB play. The deal won't cripple the Nats with an old outfielder (Dunn will be 30 in November) and it gives them a legitimate left-handed power threat in the middle of the order. Of the current Nationals players, two players - Ryan Zimmerman and Elijah Dukes - were potential 30+ home run hitters. Both of those players bat right, as do Jesus Flores and Lastings Milledge (Josh Willingham also is a power threat, but his role is unknown with this signing).

Nick Johnson, the current Nationals first baseman, is better known for his injuries than his play. I don't expect him to last past May, which would let the Nats move Dunn or Willingham to first base, though the defensive play would suffer.

I anticipate a trade during spring training, possibly involving the slew of AAA outfielders the Nationals have (Roger Bernadina, Leonard Davis, Justin Maxwell), or one of the outfielders currently on the major league roster (Austin Kearns the primary player the Nats would want to move, along with Wily Mo Pena, who I expect to be cut).

It's a good day to be a Nats fan, and that's not something I've been able to say for at least a year.