Watching the game tonight, I heard Welsh explain what he'd heard about Dunn's contract situation and how that could hurt his trade value (or at least diminish the possibility).
I quickly googled and found the report to which he was referring.
Reds left fielder Adam Dunn lacks a no-trade clause, but his contract includes a provision that grants him his own form of protection, effectively allowing him to determine his own fate.
If Dunn is traded, his $13 million club option for '08 will be voided, making him a free agent at the end of the season, according to a source with knowledge of his contract.
Thus, any team that acquired him likely would request a negotiating window to sign him long-term, rather than simply rent him for two or three months.
If the Reds keep Dunn and exercise his option after the season, he will gain full no-trade protection until next June 15. After that date, he could be traded to 10 clubs, but the list would be of his own choosing.
That was pretty important and information I certainly didn't have when speculating what to do if we're still out of it in the coming weeks before deadline.
You got Junior with 10/5 rights (and therefore trade refusal) and you have Dunn as a rent-a-player if traded and therefore less value.
Ugh. Not sure if we fall out of it if we'll get that influx of young talent we need. Unless a team that trades for Dunn negotiates an extension and/or the Reds find a place that Junior likes (close to home and close to World Series).
Possible? Sure. But suddenly less probable.