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Dodgers say they are still buyers; did they claim Adam Dunn?

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Heading the wrong direction, eight games out going into the weekend, the first week of August about done … and do you know what your Dodgers organization is up to?

They’re looking to buy.

This is Los Angeles, so giving up now would not go over well. Otherwise, Manny Ramirez is a White Sox right now. When you’re the Dodgers, you’re supposed to be in to win.

If things become more dire by the end of the month, maybe the Dodgers face the facts and do become sellers.

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Right now, though, General Manager Ned Colletti is still looking to improve his 2010 club.

‘I think we’re looking to help this club,’ said Manager Joe Torre. ‘We’re not, by any stretch of the imagination, out of the hunt in our minds. We’re going to continue to work toward making this ballclub better.’’

Which leads us to the rumor de jour -- the Dodgers claimed Adam Dunn.

Some club put a claim on the Nationals’ first baseman, and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Henry Schulman thinks it was the Dodgers. Schulman admits it’s his speculation, but said it was based on things he’d heard around the league.

Colletti, naturally, wasn’t about to say whether the Dodgers had put a claim on Dunn.

‘I can’t tell you that,’ Colletti said.

Previous to playing first base, Dunn was an outfielder. He’s having a career year, with 30 home runs and 77 RBI, half of which I believe, came Friday night.

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Dunn wants to remain in Washington, but looked like someone trying to impress the Dodgers on Friday when he crushed a three-run home run off Clayton Kershaw in the first inning and then did it again in the third.

There’s no way the Nationals are going to allow Dunn to be claimed and get nothing back. They’ll take him back off the waiver wire, and then have 48 hours to negotiate a possible deal with the Dodgers.

Dunn is owed approximately $4 million this season on his $12-million contract. He can become a free agent at the end of the season.

The Dodgers taking on an additional $4 million would go against their recent history. The deal would make more sense if a third team was involved and willing to take Ramirez.

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This time of year, though, few deals are simple.

‘You have a maze to walk through after July 31st,’ Colletti said.

To buy, or sell.

-- Steve Dilbeck

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