(Adam Dunn, HR King? Getty Images Photo via Daylife.)
On Tuesday, online gambling site Bodog.com released updated MLB odds on the potential National League home run champion. Albert Pujols is the favorite at 3/1. Adam Dunn is second choice at 4/1. But Bodog's Allen James cautions degenerate gamblers from betting the house on Dunn:
But you might not want to bet on Dunn. I say that because there are rumors that several American League contenders want to trade for him and the Nationals might be included to let the free-agent-to-be go since they aren't a playoff team.
(Allen James, via BodogBEAT, 7/13/2010)
One would think the odds would be impacted by said trade rumors. So, we'll set our own Odds of Dunn being traded before the July 31 deadline at 100/1, and partially because Mike Rizzo will be asking for sun, moon, and stars in return for Dunn ("It would take an extraordinary deal to trade him,"). Also, we're pretty sure the Nationals recognize the massive PR hit they'd take by trading off their biggest power bat -- even if its the right move for a bushel of great prospects -- Rizzo might have a hard time selling that one to a weary (and tenuous) fanbase. Oh, and let's not forget the possibility of pissing off Ryan Zimmerman, who is a free agent himself in 2013. Rizzo certainly doesn't want to piss off Zim.
In other words, go ahead: bet the house on Dunn to win that NL HR Crown. We're betting an extension happens before the trade deadline...something like 3 years, roughly $11 million per, with lots of incentives built in, club option for a fourth year.
On second thought, maybe don't bet the house on it.
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