O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

In the last few paragraphs of today's enquirer article about LaRue's contract:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...20392/1071/SPT

O'Brien doesn't expect any more signings before Jan. 1.

It would make sense to sign Dunn long-term, because he stands to make $8 million or $9 million in arbitration.

He'd probably be willing to play for less in '06 in exchange for long-term security. That's what LaRue and Freel did.

"We really haven't had any substantial conversations," O'Brien said. "That will be a priority after the first of the year."

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

Good. If they get it done, they've done the single most important thing they can do this offseason, in my opinion.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

It will be more expensive now than if they had done it a couple years ago.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

Agreed.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

What universe do you have to live in that retaining one of the premier young sluggers in the game is not a priority until after trading for Tony Womack?

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

It's a little bit easier to trade for a scrub than it is to negotiate a contract with a player that has all the leverage.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

:pray:

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

DanO's quote indicated that they haven't even tried to negotiate with Dunn, yet. As others have indicated, signing Dunn should be a priority, not an afterthought once Freel, Larue, and Womack were taken care of.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

Perhaps DanO thinks it better to get the easier stuff out of the way before getting down and dirty with the Dunn negotiations?

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

Getting the Dunn negotiations completed defines what you can do with the rest of the roster.

Maybe Dunn suprises you and will sign for $6 million a year. Now you have a little more wiggle room for aquiring pitching. Clement for Casey suddenly fits into the budget and you don't have to settle for Dave Williams.

Maybe he has stars in his eyes and will take no less than $12 million. Suddenly you realize that you will struggle to field a competetive team with that kind of money tied to one player. It's time to start shopping for a monster return on the big fella.

Maybe Dunn wants just a bit more than what you have left in the budget after signing Larue, Freel, and aquiring Womack. If John Allen won't let you expand the budget, then you are forced to either forego signing Dunn for another year or to make another roster move.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

A scrappy one.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

There are a lot of things that go into signing him long term. Reasons why he should and probably did wait:

Dunn was probably upset about the Casey move, DOB thought Dunn should be given a month to think over the deal so he is more likely to sign (let alone for less)

Waiting gives DOB more time to prove that he is trying to improve the team. Maybe a trade for a pitcher is in the works, which would help convince him that to stay.

Maybe after that "big trade," Austin Kearns is STILL on the team. This alone should get Dunn to sign a deal, and ask for less than he would if Kearns was shipped out.

You do not want a disgruntaled super-star that just signed a long term deal. I don't think waiting til now is a bad thing.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

5 years $50 mill and call it a day. Then the Reds should turn to their second biggest priority--dumping godawful contracts.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

Yay for DanO for finally making the obvious a priority.

Re: O'Brien: signing Dunn to long term deal will be a priority after first of year
 

It would be great, but I don't think Dunn would or should sign for that. He should get at least Damon money. $13 mil per sounds about right to me. Anything less than that, you can consider it a bargain.