As he found out that he would join a new team — a contender — first baseman/designated hitter Adam Dunn announced that he will likely call it a career after the 2014 season ends. Jen Lada of CSN Chicago announced the news after hearing of the trade.
Dunn on playing after this year: this is probably it
— Jen Lada (@JenLada) August 31, 2014
According to NBC Sports’ Rotoworld, Lada got the quote from Dunn himself. Dunn finds himself going from the A.L. Central’s fourth-place Chicago White Sox to the A.L. West’s second-place Oakland Athletics, who also currently hold the top A.L. Wild Card position. Both the Athletics and MLB.com’s Jane Lee announced the trade late Sunday afternoon.
#Athletics acquire Adam Dunn and cash considerations from the Chicago White Sox for minor league pitcher Nolan Sanburn. — Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) August 31, 2014
The trade allows Dunn a chance at playing in the postseason, which he has never done in his 14-year career. He played for the following teams from 2001 to the present:
- Cincinnati Reds, 2001-2008. The Reds never finished higher than third in the N.L. Central during that span.
- Arizona Diamondbacks, 2008. Following a mid-season trade, he played in only 44 games for his new team. The Diamondbacks finished second but missed the postseason.
- Washington Nationals, 2009-2010. The Nationals had a losing season each year.
- Chicago White Sox, 2011-present. The White Sox finished third, second, fifth, and likely fourth, respectively, in those years.
For his career, Dunn has put up totals of .237/.365/.491, 460 HR, 1,158 RBI, and 1.2 average WAR as of August 31. His 460 home runs rank 36th on the all-time list, and his 1,158 RBI rank 176th. Those rankings may sound too impressive, but considering the tens of thousands of players to have reached the Majors makes them jump out much more. He still has one more month to add to those totals and step up a few rungs on each ladder. Dunn also made an All-Star team in each league.
Dunn is well-known for tape-measure bombs, such as the one seen here in which he sent one deep-sea diving into McCovey Cove in San Francisco on August 13 of this season.
He even had a his chance on the mound on August 5 of this year during a 16-0 thrashing at the hands of the Texas Rangers. He allowed one earned run on two hits and a walk — not bad for a designated hitter.
Dunn, who turns 35 soon after the season ends, still has time to change his mind and play a few more years. Regardless of his final decision, though, he has had a very solid career. He now has a chance to make the postseason, and he can help the Athletics turn around their struggling offense in 2014’s final regular-season month to get there. If this is his final year, then perhaps he can reach the pinnacle of the reason for playing the game: winning a World Series.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mitchell LaytonGetty Images Sport
