Dunn deal: D-Backs acquire slugger from Reds

The Diamondbacks know right where to place power bat Adam Dunn.

Dunn, who is tied for the major league lead with 32 home runs, will hit fourth and play right field in his D-Backs’ debut in Colorado today.

“It is going to be tougher to maneuver through our lineup,” manager Bob Melvin said. “This helps all the way through.”

Dunn, acquired Monday from Cincinnati for minor league pitcher Dallas Buck and two players to be named, sounded as enthused as you might expect from a player who gained five places in the standings — from sixth place in the NL Central with the Reds to first place in the NL West.

“I’m very excited with the opportunity to play with a first-place team in August,” said Dunn, hitting .233 with 72 RBIs, 80 walks and 120 strikeouts.

“I know they (D-Backs) have a lot of young guys and have a good pitching staff. You’re getting the best pitching we’ve faced, top to bottom, all year. It will be a nice feeling to be on the opposite side of that.”

Dunn was obtained to juice up a lineup that lost second baseman Orlando Hudson for the season on Saturday and also is expected to be without outfielder Eric Byrnes for the rest of the year. The D-Backs are 10th in the NL in runs despite playing in a hitter-friendly park.

The move also counters the Los Angeles Dodgers’ acquisition of slugging left fielder Manny Ramirez on July 31.

General manager Josh Byrnes admitted that the deal was made to counteract Ramirez “to some degree.”

“Manny has done a good job with the Dodgers, but we needed to worry about ourselves. This is a very high-end player who has been dominant against right-handers.”

Dunn, 6-foot-6 and 275 pounds, is eight homers away from his fifth consecutive 40-homer season. He had a career-high 46 in 2004 and had 40 each of the last three seasons.

“He is a power bat. He drives in runs. He hits home runs. He walks. I don’t think he can do anything but help,” D-Backs first baseman Chad Tracy said. “We got one of the best players out there to combat Manny.”

Dunn will spend most of his time in right field, although he also could play some first base after Justin Upton returns from his rehab assignment next week. Dunn doesn’t care.

“I’m sure it is one of those things where I go out (to right field) and get my feet wet again. I’ll be fine,” said Dunn, who has played 926 games in left, 100 at first base and 55 in right.

Conor Jackson has played left field since early July, when Byrnes was injured, and will stay there now that he is comfortable, Melvin said.

The D-Backs did not characterize the quality of the players to be named in the trade.

Buck, a third-round draft pick in 2006, missed the last half of 2007 and the first half of 2008 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, but is 1-5 with a 3.55 ERA at Class A since his return and was considered a strong prospect prior to the injury.

Dunn, making $13 million this season, will be a free agent at the end of 2008, and it appears unlikely the D-Backs will bid for his services since Byrnes is expected to reclaim left field in 2009, the second year of his three-year deal.

The D-Backs would, however, acquire two high draft picks if Dunn signs elsewhere.

Dunn is owed about $4 million for the rest of this year, and the money is expected to be split between the Reds and the D-Backs.