Major League Baseball

Dunn wants to remain with Nationals

Published Sep. 20, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

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Adam Dunn reiterated Monday he wants to remain with the Washington Nationals.

Even if he first becomes a free agent.

''I still want to be here. I don't know what's going to happen,'' Dunn said before the Nationals opened their final homestand of the season. ''Just because I go to free agency doesn't mean I can't come back here or that I don't want to come back here. I do.''

The slugger leads the Nationals with 35 home runs and 93 RBI. His representatives are talking to the team about a new contract, but Dunn says he wouldn't be surprised if the process takes so long he becomes a free agent.

Players have 15 days after the World Series to file for free agency.

''Whenever I'm a free agent means nothing, other than I can go out and see if other teams are interested,'' he said. ''But that's not what I'm interested in. That's not what I want to do.''

Dunn doesn't want to join an American League club because he'd used primarily as a designated hitter. He's in the final weeks of a two-year, $20 million contract signed in February 2009.

The Nationals would be hard-pressed to replace his production in the middle of the lineup, and Dunn said he's finally seeing positive signs of a club on the verge of a turnaround.

''We've had a lot of injuries this year that's set us back,'' Dunn said. ''I don't think we've played up to our potential by far. The good thing is that we've got a lot of young guys who have gotten a lot of valuable experience this year.''

Dunn's committed 10 errors in his first season as a full-time first baseman, but said he's feeling more comfortable and confident in his new position.

''The more balls you get, the more time you're out there in game situations, the better off you'll be,'' he said.

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