MLB Trade Deadline: Nationals Reportedly Not Making 'Significant Progress' On Contract Extension For Adam Dunn

It's already been presumed by some that the Nationals will trade Adam Dunn before the trade deadline if they cannot agree on a long-term contract with him before July 31. On that front, this latest update by FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi is significant.

The Nationals may trade first baseman Adam Dunn if they can't sign him to an extension before Saturday's 4 p.m. ET deadline.

At this point, it doesn't appear that the sides have made significant progress. So, we can expect the Dunn market to heat up in the coming days.

The White Sox have been the most serious suitor, but sources say the Tigers, Rangers and Yankees maintain some level of interest, as well.

It should be noted that, according to Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post, Nationals GM Mike Rizzo has not actually set a deadline to complete a contract extension. 

Over the all-star break, one Nationals employee said, representatives for Dunn approached Rizzo with a request. Dunn's side wanted to strike a contract extension, and soon, and they wanted a deadline set to hasten talks. Rizzo responded without ambivalence. The negotiation would be on the team's terms. No deadlines. If Dunn's side tried to set one, Rizzo told Dunn's agent, then the Nationals would trade him.    

So yeah, believe who you want to believe. It's the silly season, folks!