Reds fandom (and baseball fandom beyond) is abuzz with the prospect of trading Adam Dunn. Makes sense, I suppose: there isn't much else to be abuzz about in Redsland these days.

In some cases it's just speculation based on a feeling that Dunn's time is up, such as at Diamod Hoggers:

As I get older I am starting to realize that baseball is just a business. There was a time when an organization would be happy with a guy showing up, playing every day, and hitting 40+ home runs every season. That time is apparently not now.

In other cases it's based on apparent conjecture presented as uncited fact, such as Joe Sheehan's article at Baseball Prospectus:

Of course, we were here just a year ago, with disastrous results. Wayne Krivsky blew up what was a fringe wild-card contender by overpaying badly for relievers Bill Bray and Gary Majewski. Sending away Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez killed the team’s strength, its offense, while providing absolutely no gains anywhere else. To his discredit, Krivsky is again largely focused on adding a reliever, in particularly a closer, in a Dunn deal.

In the case of Ken Rosenthal, his sources seem to say the talks are there, but the options aren't many:

The Dodgers are interested in Dunn, sources say, but seemingly have no place to put him; Dunn is below-average in left field, and neither he nor the Dodgers' current left fielder, Luis Gonzalez, would be adequate in right.

The Padres like Dunn, but have had no recent discussions with the Reds. The Twins are looking for a designated hitter, but Dunn, earning $10.5 million, is beyond their price range. The Angels have shown past interest in Dunn, but manager Mike Scioscia generally prefers more well-rounded players.

FWIW, I'm stunned that Wayne Krivsky hasn't done any more to help this foundering team than twiddle with the bullpenners in Cincinnati and Louisville, and his lack of activity makes it feel like something big just has to go down soon. At the same time, if a year of Kriv-dawg has taught us anything, it's that he never does what you expect.

I imagine that Dunn, like everyone all the time, is available. With the Reds so far out of it, I think that Krivsky is less likely to make a hasty move ala The Trade, so unless something really compelling comes along, I think we'll be seeing Dunn in Red next year.
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But it's sort of fun to speculate. At least it gives us something else to talk about.

Experience the boundless rage of the Crack Technical Staff and the growing blasé-ness of the Red Hot Mama on this week’s episode of the Red Hot Broadcast. We talk about the following topics with varying levels of passion and interest:

• The misuse of Homer Bailey (yeah, you kinda saw that coming)
• The misuse of Gary Majewski (i.e. ANY use of Gary Majewski)
• Four ridiculous ways to improve the team (or maybe they’re not so ridiculous after all)
• Tour of the NLC (hint: they’re not as bad as the Reds!)
• Coming up: one of the few teams worse off than Cincinnati (but still don’t mess with Teixiera)

Episode 60: I Can’t Believe How Bad This Team Is (19.7MB, 28:44)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

WANTED: CONTRIBUTOR TO REDS.COM. MUST BE MASTER OF THE ART OF UNDERSTATEMENT.

Looks like the Reds are trying for the comeback, though. C'mon guys! Prove my smart-alecry premature!

It's so disheartening to see the Reds lose again, even though I didn't actually see much of it. I took a nap.

Hope you guys got rested up as well. There's still a lot of baseball left.

I thought about titling this “Celebrating Eric Milton's Triumphant Return To The Operating Room” but that's only half the story here, and it's too long for a title that only tells half the story.

We probably won't have Eric Milton to kick around anymore. He's due for Tommy John surgery on Friday, which means he's finished for the year and probably finished as a Red.

Milton was already on the DL, so we don't get to call up anybody to replace him, BUT since the Reds have also placed Jared Burton on the 15 day DL with back spasms, they do get to call up somebody for that….and that somebody is (drum roll, please) none other than Todd Coffey, who just got sent down on June 8 and would otherwise have had to stay in the minors for at least ten days. But with Burton going on the DL, the Reds can take advantage of an exception to that ten-day rule and call up Coffey anyway, which they've done.

That's the other half of the story. Except that…well, the Reds can't simply option Burton to the minors because he's a Rule 5 guy, who would have to clear waivers and be offered back to Oakland first. But if he's hurt, they can DL him, which gives him a maximum of 30 days in the minors on a rehab assignment when he comes off the DL.

Then again, the first time Milton went on the DL this year, coming out of spring training, it was for back spasms, and now he's going to have a ligament replacement in his elbow (which is what Tommy John surgery is).

So, is this Kriv-Dawg finding a creative way to get around all that Rule 5 red tape and get Burton some additional seasoning in the minors? Or should we be looking forward to the day in August when Doc kremchek looks down at the unconscious Burton on the operating room table, extends his gloved hand toward the OR nurse, and says, “Scalpel” in the usual monotone voice used by surgeons in that situation?

You decide.