WASHINGTON — Adam Dunn has a new team, and the Washington Nationals have a new cleanup hitter.

The Nationals scheduled a news conference at their stadium Thursday to introduce Dunn, a free agent who agreed to a $20 million, two-year deal.

The contract will pay Dunn $8 million in 2009, and $12 million in 2010.

Dunn, a first baseman and outfielder, hit a combined .236 with 40 homers, 100 RBIs and 164 strikeouts last season with the Reds and Diamondbacks. He hit at least 40 homers and struck out at least 164 times in each of the past five seasons.

The 29-year-old Dunn, a left-handed batter, has a .247 average with 278 homers and 672 RBIs over his career. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Dunn also has a career .381 on-base percentage and last year led the NL in walks with 122.

The 2008 Nationals hit 117 homers — ranking 15th of 16 NL teams — while finishing with the worst record in the major leagues at 59-102.

Late in the season, Washington manager Manny Acta was asked about his wish list for new players, and he quickly began by saying he wanted a left-handed power hitter.

"We need at least one bona fide hitter to help our kids — a guaranteed 30 (homers), 100 (RBIs), regardless of who's surrounding him," Acta said then. "Somebody who strikes fear."

After pursuing first baseman Mark Teixeira until he signed with the Yankees, the Nationals had not managed to add a slugger or make a truly significant offseason move — until now.

It's the latest example of Nationals general manager Jim Bowden bringing one of his former Cincinnati Reds players to Washington, a list that includes Austin Kearns, Ryan Wagner, Aaron Boone, Wily Mo Pena and Dmitri Young.

When he was the Reds' GM, Bowden drafted Dunn in the second round of the 1998 amateur draft.