D'backs Steal Adam Dunn from Reds

The D'backs pulled off a stunner of a waiver trade today by grabbing Adam Dunn from the Reds in exchange for minor league pitcher Dallas Buck and two other prospects to be named later. Dunn is eligible to become a free agent in just a few months, but with Manny Ramirez and the Dodgers just 1 1/2 games behind the D'backs, this is a huge coup for the reigning division champs.

Dunn hasn't been hitting all that much over the past few weeks (nor has he been drawing quite as many walks as usual), but he still swings one of the biggest bats in the game and will instantly force pitchers to change their approach against the middle of Arizona's lineup. And who knows, maybe going from a team nearly 20 games out of first to a division leader will be all he needs to snap himself out of his recent slump.

As for the Reds, well, this move doesn't make that much sense. Buck is a former third-round pick, who made his name helping Oregon State win an NCAA title in 2006, but after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer, he's yet to pitch above Double-A.

It's possible the yet-to-be-named prospects will justify this trade in the end, but will they really be that much better than the two high draft picks the Red would have received in next year's draft had they held onto Dunn until he left as a free agent? Instead, the D'backs will get those picks (assuming, of course, they don't re-sign Dunn), which is yet another reason why this trade was a no-brainer for them.

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New York Mets' pitcher Pedro Martinez pumps his fist after ending the Pittsburgh Pirates at-bat during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 at Shea Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Ryan Doumit, center, loses control of the ball as New York Mets' Carlos Delgado, right, crosses home plate while umpire Bill Hohn looks on during the third inning of the Major League Baseball game Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 at Shea Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Zach Duke pitches during the second inning of a Major League Baseball game against the New York Mets Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 at Shea Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' Pedro Martinez pitches during the second inning of a Major League Baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 at Shea Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Mets' David Wright, left, is greeted by Carlos Delgado after he Wright hit a three-run homer during the first inning of the Major League Baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, Aug. 11, 2008 at Shea Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Chicago Cubs' Ronny Cedeno hits a two RBI double against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, in Chicago. The Cubs defeated the Cardinals 6-2. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Chicago Cubs' Kerry Wood works against the St. Louis Cardinals during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, in Chicago. The Cubs defeated the Cardinals 2-6. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

St. Louis Cardinals' Joe Mather hits an RBI double against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Chicago Cubs' Aramis Ramirez congratulates Alfonso Soriano after Soriano scored on an RBI single by Derrek Lee against the St. Louis Cardinals during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

St. Louis Cardinals' Ryan Ludwick throws his batting glove into his helmet after grounding out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Update: The only way this trade made a shred of sense to me from the Reds' perspective was that they'd be able to save a few bucks -- Dunn is still owed roughly $4 million of his $13 million salary this year. But according to the East Valley Tribune, this isn't even a salary dump: the Reds and D'backs are expected to split Dunn's remaining salary.

In other words, the Reds didn't just get ripped off, they actually paid a team to rip them off. Boy, Bill Bavasi doesn't waste much time, does he?