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CINCINNATI — Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi was asked on his radio show about acquiring Adam Dunn from the Reds.

His response had paint peeling across the border.

"Do you know the guy really doesn't like baseball that much? Do you know the guy doesn't have the passion to play the game that much?" Ricciardi said to a caller. "How much you know about the player? There is a reason why you are attracted to some players and there is a reason why you're not attracted to some players. I think you would not be very happy if we brought Adam Dunn here.

"We've done our homework on guys like Adam Dunn and there is a reason why we don't want Adam Dunn. I don't want to get into specifics. He is a lifetime .230 to .240 hitter that strikes out a ton and hits home runs."

Dunn's response?

"I have a lot more important things to worry about than some windbag GM in Canada says about me," he said. "It is very unprofessional. He can talk about his players all he wants. If he said that about anybody on our team I'd be angry because he has no right to talk about anybody other than his own team.

"Passion? He can say what he wants about the strikeouts and that I don't fit in their scheme, whatever, but you can't tell me about something you have no idea about. You're not even in the U.S., you're in Canada. He can't tell me I don't love the game, or I wouldn't play 160 games a year."

It's Thompson's turn

The Reds have yet to make it official, but punch it into your Blackberry or iPod — 22-year-old rookie Daryl Thompson will pitch Saturday in Yankee Stadium against the New York Yankees.

Thompson is 3-0 with a 3.25 earned-run average in four starts at Louisville (AAA) after starting the season at Class AA Chattanooga and going 3-2 with a 1.76 ERA in 10 starts.

Thompson was, basically, a throw-in to the deal that sent Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and Ryan Wager to the Washington Nationals two years ago.

In return, the Reds received Royce Clayton, Bill Bray, Gary Majewski, Brendan Harris and Thompson.

What ensued was a dispute between Nationals GM Jim Bowden and then-Reds GM Wayne Krivsky over whether Majewski was damaged goods.

Amazingly, Washington insiders said Thompson was included in the deal because he had major shoulder surgery in 2005 (torn labrum) and Bowden didn't think he would last. As one Bowden acquaintance said, "Bowden thought he was sticking it to the Reds with Thompson."

As a matter of fact, Reds medical director Dr. Tim Kremchek performed the surgery while Thompson was in Washington's minor-league system and he was still rehabbing when the trade was made.

It isn't likely Thompson will be intimidated by the Yankees, Yankee Stadium or the ghosts of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle.

Thompson had a dose of Yankee-dom this spring when he pitched an inning against the Yankees in packed Legends Field in Tampa, Fla. He struck out the side.

Toronto for Hairston?

Jerry Hairston Jr. (fractured left thumb) has been taking batting practice, but didn't leave with the team for New York.

"Best case scenario? Join the team in Toronto Tuesday," he said. "There is going to be pain, but I can't make it worse."

Quote of the day

"Vote for your favorite player, other than Ken." — Ken Griffey Jr., a solid third in the National League outfield All-Star voting but preferring to vacation in the Bahamas with his family over the All-Star break.