MLB Trade Rumors: Six Perfect Spots for Adam Dunn

The trade rumors regarding Adam Dunn are beginning to heat up.

Although Washington Nationals' general manager Mike Rizzo has steadfastly claimed that he will only trade Dunn if he receives the most exceptional of offers, ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Dunn is beginning to grow frustrated with the pace of negotiations on a contract extension.

Further, as the Nationals fall further and further behind in the NL East—they're currently 13.5 games back—buying is no longer an option, and refusing to sell a player who will become an A-list free agent at the end of the season may be foolish.

If I may editorialize for a moment, as a Phillies' fan I would love to see Dunn go, but as a baseball fan, I am excited about Washington's potential in the coming years with a Zimmerman-Dunn-Willingham-Harper nucleus and a Strasburg-Whomever-Whomever rotation.

Nevertheless, here is a look at the top six landing spots for Adam Dunn in 2010, should the Nationals decide to trade him.

6. Texas Rangers

The Rangers just traded away their first baseman, Justin Smoak, and even before that the team had a hole there. Plugging Adam Dunn into an already potent lineup would just about seal the AL West for the Rangers.

But since the team just sent a boat-load of prospects to Seattle for Cliff Lee, I doubt the Rangers would be looking to throw down another boat-load for Dunn.

However, I'd be willing to throw in five bucks myself just to see how many home runs Dunn would hit at Rangers Ballpark.

One a game? A couple per game? It would be outstanding.

5. New York Yankees

While the New York Yankees have suffered from Mark Teixeira's inconsistent bat at first base, they've also failed to settle in on a regular designated hitter.

How much fun would it be to see how many home runs Adam Dunn could hit in the new Yankees Stadium?

4. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have a lot of question marks in their lineup, and as they lock in for the second half Battle Royale for the AL East against the Yankees and the Red Sox, they can ill afford to be messing around with Willy Aybar and Matt Joyce at designated hitter.

They've traded one DH in Pat Burrell, and they just released another in Hank Blalock. Now may be the time to solidify that spot in the order with Adam Dunn.

I am sure they could lure him away from Washington by giving up one of their many pitching prospects.

3. Colorado Rockies

Todd Helton is broken. He's gone to seed. He's overstayed his welcome. He's past his prime, and then some.

No offense to Helton, but he is literally the weak link in the Rockies lineup. This team is only two games out of the NL West, and with Adam Dunn they would become the team to beat in the division.

2. Chicago White Sox

The Chicago White Sox have used Mark Kotsay as their primary designated hitter in 2010, with Paul Konerko and Carlos Quentin also seeing time there.

At this point in his career, Kotsay is not a player you want in the lineup every day.

If the White Sox got Adam Dunn, they could plant him at first base, move Konerko to designated hitter full time, and have Kotsay come off the bench.

Frankly, with Konerko, Dunn, and Quentin in the middle of the order, I find it hard to believe that either the Twins or Tigers would have a chance at the AL Central crown.

1. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels haven't figured first base out since that awful injury to Kendry Morales in May. If the Angels think they are still contending—and they are the Angels, so they must—Adam Dunn might be exactly what they need to kick start their offense.