Agent Predicts Adam Dunn Will Sign With Cubs

Now that the Chicago Cubs have named Mike Quade their new manager, they figure to turn their attention to addressing their off-season needs. Among the positions the Chicago Cubs are looking to fill this winter are a power hitting first baseman who is left handed, a starting pitcher, and possibly a second baseman or reliever. It is widely expected that the Chicago Cubs are going to make a hard push at signing Adam Dunn when he hits the open market as a free agent. At least one agent, thinks that the Chicago Cubs are going to sign Dunn to a 3 year deal worth $40MM.

According to an interview conducted by Clint Evans from Diamond Hoggers, and Mike Rosenbaum from The Golden Sombrero in their podcast called “The Baseball Show”, baseball agent Matt Sosnick believes the Chicago Cubs are interested in signing Adam Dunn to a multi-year deal.

“If I was going to guess, I would say [Adam Dunn] is probably going to the Cubs, and he’ll probably get, you know, 3 years and 40 million bucks,” said Sosnick, of Sosnick and Cobbe Sports. KAP’S CORNER

This is probably going to be the biggest debate among Cubs fans throughout the entire off-season. Should the Chicago Cubs spend $13.3MM per 3 years for the services of Adam Dunn, or should they just go for a temporary stop gap at the position, and wait till 2012 when Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and Adrian Gonzalez have the potential to be free agents.

The way I see it, this will determine what type of mind set the Chicago Cubs are going to go into the 2011 season with. If the Cubs are willing to spend $40MM on Adam Dunn, that would signal that they have the intentions of contending in 2011 and rebuilding on the fly. Whereas if the Cubs sign a player like Adam LaRoche, Lyle Overbay, or Aubrey Huff they may just be looking to go young and wait till the free agent frenzy in 2012.

The biggest concern with Adam Dunn, is that he is a defensive liability for any team that he plays for. And, with the Cubs being one of the worst defensive teams last season, Adam Dunn may not be the best fit for the Chicago Cubs. But, I think you tend to take the bad defense, considering that Adam Dunn is a prolific power hitter and would bring instant run production to the Cubs lineup. As Dunn every year projects to hit over 40 home runs while driving in over 100 runs. Not to mention, Dunn has the most home runs by an opposing player at Wrigley Field with 25.

For the Cubs to acquire Dunn, it would be directly tied into their ability to trade Kosuke Fukudome. If the Chicago Cubs can trade Fukudome and save about $5MM or $6MM, the Chicago Cubs would then be able to afford Adam Dunn, who wants to come to the Chicago Cubs.