CINCINNATI — First baseman Joey Votto is learning left field at Class AAA Louisville. Coincidence? Who believes in coincidence?
The annual Adam Dunn trade rumor is circulating baseball this week. Isn't he a left fielder?
"Unofficially? I think it'll happen," said Dunn.
Votto had two hits Monday and a stolen base (No. 7) and is hitting .314.
"Last I looked, he had played seven games in left field and 50 at first base," said general manager Wayne Krivsky. "We're having him play left field so he can play more than one position. He has improved light years."
About trading Dunn, Krivsky said, "I don't comment on rumors and it is better not to say anything." Notice? No denial.
But the pregame pressbox was stuffed with scouts from Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago (White Sox), Detroit and others.
Any hang-up would involve Dunn's contract. It expires after this season, making him a free agent. The Reds have a $13 million one-year option, but if he gets traded, that goes away, meaning his new team would have to sign him to a new contract or risk losing him to free agency.
"If every rumored trade came true I'd a been out of here in 2002," said Dunn. "And I can't control what happens, so why concern myself with it? I don't want to think about it because it affects me and I'm not going to let it affect me.
"This is not something new, not like my name never has been brought up in trade rumors," he added. "And it's the same teams every year. First time I heard it was '02-'03 and I thought sure I was going to be traded because I heard it.
"Then I heard it in '04, '05, '06 and now I hear it in '07," he said. "I'll believe it when I see it. I've said it from Day 1 — I'd like to stay here, but I know how this game is and how it works."