Dunn traded to Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks finally got the boost they have been looking for in acquiring outfielder Adam Dunn from the Cincinnati Reds for a minor-league pitcher and two players to be named later on Monday. Dunn batted .233 this season for the Reds with 32 homers, tied for tops in the majors. Dunn will be a rental situation as he is eligible for free agency at the end of the season and should give a boost to their sputtering offense. The Diamonbacks currently have a 1 1/2 -game lead over the Dodgers in the NL West. The Diamondbacks sent right-hander Dallas Buck to the Reds.

In the last couple weeks the Reds have traded two of their best hitters in Ken Griffey Jr. and now Dunn, showing that they are ready to rebuild. The Reds are last in the NL Central and on a six-game slide.

Check out Blue Collar Baseball for a good run-down of what is happening in Cincy

In other MLB news:

• Shannon Stewart released by the Blue Jays
  
• Texas Rangers reliever C.J. Wilson will miss the rest of the season.

• The O-dog is out for the year, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Orlando Hudson underwent surgery late Saturday night to repair a dislocated bone in his left wrist and will miss the remainder of the season.

Last but not least is video from Sundays matchup of the Phillies and the Pirates, where Jamie Moyer uses the truck stick on umpire Randy Marsh. Clip provided by the fightins'

Griffey headed to the Windy City

The trade deadline is upon us and the first big deal has been made.The Reds have traded Griffey to the White Sox, pending his approval. Griffey will decide sometime today whether he will approve the deal or not. The return on Griffey for the Reds is unknown at this point.

Griffey, as a player with 10 years of major-league service, five with the same club, has the right to block any deal. The White Sox attempted to acquire him from the Reds in 2005, but the trade reportedly was vetoed by Reds ownership for financial reasons.

The future hall-of-famer, is batting .245 this season with a .355 on-base percentage, 15 home runs and 53 RBIs in 359 at-bats. Earlier this season, he hit his 600th home run.

Update:

Griffey accepts trade. If the commissioner’s office approves the deal, the Reds would get right-handed reliever Nick Masset, who was 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA in 32 games for Chicago, and second baseman Danny Richar, who hit .262 with nine homers for Triple-A Charlotte.

Other deadline deals:

The Florida Marlins acquired left-hander Arthur Rhodes from the Seattle Mariners for minor league right-hander Gaby Hernandez.

The Houston Astros acquired righthander LaTroy Hawkins from the New York Yankees for Class A Lexington second baseman Matt Cusick.

In Case you missed it

Ken Griffey Jr., finally hit number 600 earlier this week and it just makes you think what could of been. Living in Hawaii during his Mariner days, I was able to watch a lot of his games. I don't think there was a player on the west coast kids emulated more. We tried to copy that picture perfect swing and his amazing plays in center. He was the Michael Jordan of baseball, but we all know what happened and I know I wish he could have played all his years injury free. Griffey was on pace to slaughter the record books until he left to go play in his hometown of Cincinatti and he was bit by the injury bug again and again. He seems approachable, always has a huge smile on his face and is the polar opposite of Barry Bonds. I dont think I have met anyone that did not enjoy watching him in his heyday Congratulations Ken, heres the video if you missed it.