Dunn deal: Diamondbacks acquire slugger
Former Cincinnati Reds outfielder tied for major league home run lead with 32
The Arizona Diamondbacks, missing three regulars from their lineup, tried to fill the void Monday by trading for one of the top sluggers in baseball.
They dealt pitching prospect Dallas Buck and two players to be named to the Cincinnati Reds, who found no takers for Dunn prior to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
Dunn, 28, was batting .233 this season for the Reds and tied with Philadelphia's Ryan Howard and Carlos Quentin of the Chicago White Sox for the major league lead in home runs with 32.
The career .247 hitter also has 74 runs batted in and a .373 on-base percentage. He is eligible for free agency at the end of the season.
Arizona (60-58) tried to acquire Mark Teixeira from the Atlanta Braves at last month's trade deadline before he went to the Los Angeles Angels.
The Dunn trade gives the Diamondbacks, who entered the day with a 1 1/2-game lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the National League West division, a boost to an anemic offence. The Diamondbacks rank 20th in the majors in runs scored.
Arizona lost right-fielder Justin Upton on July 9 with a strained oblique muscle and left-fielder in Eric Byrnes prior to that with a torn hamstring.
On Saturday, second baseman Orlando Hudson suffered a season-ending wrist injury when he collided with baserunner Brian McCann of the Atlanta Braves.
With files from the Associated Press