Adam Dunn

Dunn took home hardware for being the AL's Most Improved Player in 2012, and that was probably deserved after he nearly quadrupled his home-run total from 2011. He also led the league in both strikeouts and walks. New manager Robin Ventura employed Dunn in the field more often than the previous regime did, so he should hang onto first base (51 games) and possibly outfield (five games) eligibility for fantasy purposes even though he will serve as the White Sox's primary DH in 2013.

Dunn's transition to the DH slot and power-friendly U.S. Cellular Field had many salivating over the possibility of a 50-plus home run campaign. Instead, he demonstrated historically poor plate discipline, striking out in 35.7 percent of his at-bats. His 11 home runs were his fewest as a pro since 1999, when he was at Low-A Rockford. His HR/FB rate was less than half of his career rate , so he may recover some power as the rate normalizes. Dunn never seemed to find his groove after undergoing an emergency appendectomy in April, and he seemed uncomfortable in his new role as a DH. He has said he would try to refine his offseason routine for 2012, which would be a marked improvement over 2011 when he reportedly started spring training out of shape, and a new manager and hitting coach might help him shake the demons. The White Sox will have to play him every day at DH because of his contract, so he should receive every opportunity to rebound.

Dunn's final season in Washington was a bit of a mixed bag. While he supplied his usual power and run production and put up his best SLG since 2007, he also failed to draw at least 100 walks and recorded his worst OBP since 2003. His defense at first base was only slightly below average, but he'll likely see plenty of DH at-bats now that he's finally bowed to the inevitable and taken his act to the American League. Playing his home games in U.S. Cellular instead of Nationals Park should also help Dunn return to the 40-plus home run level once again and maybe even take a run at his career high of 46.

A late-season slump cost Dunn his sixth straight 40-plus home run season, but in all other respects he proved to be exactly the offensive force the Nationals thought they were getting when they signed him, and which they desperately needed in the heart of their order. Given that he's only got one more year left on his contract, expect the trade rumors to continue circling his head this year. But he's a good fit in Washington, and if the team shows any signs of life at all it may even elect to keep him around past 2010, especially considering the lack of options in the minors who seem even close to ready to replace him.

Maybe it's because he's set the bar so high, but Dunn quietly hit 40 homers and drew 100 walks for the fifth consecutive season, which ultimately prompted the Reds to deal him for starter Micah Owings and prospects Dallas Buck and Wilkin Castillo in August. Questions about his defense won't go away anytime soon, but Dunn is believed to be willing to play both corner outfield spots and first base, so he'll cash in with a sizeable contract and likely suit up for his third major league team in 2009. Unless he lands in a home park that is extremely friendly to pitchers, another 40-homers are a safe bet.

For the fourth consecutive season, Dunn had at least 40 homers and a 100 walks, yet remained a lightning rod among the Cincinnati fan base and media. Yes, he's not fleet of foot, still strikes out a ton, doesn't play great defense or hit for average. However, the Reds' decision to exercise their option on him for 2008 was a trivially easy one. For all of his weaknesses, Dunn's strengths still outweigh them and are sufficiently rare. A trade still might occur during the season, particularly if the Reds start off poorly. Until then, Reds fans and analysts will remain divided on his merits.

Dunn is a pretty polarizing figure in Cincinnati baseball circles, as in fantasy circles. He's not a lot of fun to watch -- he strikes out a lot, he hits for a low average, and isn't much of a defensive player. That tends to underrate his true value to the team, namely his power and his walks. There's a reasonable chance he ends up elsewhere this season, given how much GM Wayne Krivsky hates his strikeouts. For fantasy purposes, if you get him (and you'll still have to pay a pretty price for him), you'd better make sure you get a high at-bat, high-average type to offset the batting average pain he'll cause.

For the second year in a row, Dunn topped 100 runs, walks and RBI while reaching the 40-homer plateau. He'll never be a good bet to hit for average, but what's scary is that he's just starting to enter his power peak years. He's also about to get a lot more expensive for the Reds, so be aware that there's a possibility that 2006 will be the final year Dunn can call the Great American Ballpark home. He hit .274/.418/.639 with 26 homers there, while going .221/.359/.446 with 14 homers on the road.

Sometimes you can offer too much help. When Dunn struggled so badly in 2003, there was no shortage of advice from Bob Boone, Ray Knight and the rest of the Reds coaching staff. One of the first moves by manager Dave Miley in 2004 was to streamline Dunn's support, granting only hitting coach Chris Chambliss access to work with Dunn. The approach worked, as Dunn turned in his best season. He was the first Red since Joe Morgan to top 100 runs, 100 walks, and 100 RBI. It's a credit to the organization that they didn't bench him to prevent him from breaking the single-season strikeout record at the end of the year.

Dunn's feast-or-famine ways have been frustrating to the Reds and his fantasy owners alike. While the batting average and strikeout rate trends are negative, it's worth noting that Dunn preserved his walk rate in 2003, and his slugging percentage remained relatively constant. This is one player who also can't help but benefit from Bob Boone's firing, as presumably he'll have a more stable place in the lineup and batting order.

Dunn finished the 2002 season in a 23-for-150 slump that included just two homers and six RBI. Even so, he finished the season with 26 homers and a .400 on-base percentage. We have to wonder though, was this just a big slump, or did opposing pitchers figure out how to attack his long swing? Dunn's value will be justifiably depressed in 2003 as a result of this slump. Long-term, the plate discipline is there, so we still think there is potential for improvement.