Dukes traded to Nationals

The Rays finally had enough of Elijah Dukes.

The Rays confirmed and announced they have traded the troubled outfielder to the Nationals, and will get back minor-league left-hander Glenn Gibson, who was 4-3, 3.10 in 12 starts for short-season Class A Vermont this season.

"We have been committed to providing Elijah the support needed to get his personal and professional life back on track,'' Rays executive VP Andrew Friedman said in a statement. "He has made progress, and a logical next step is a change of cities and a fresh start for him and his family.''

After the teams agreed to the trade, Nationals officials met this morning with Dukes at a hotel near the airport here in Nashville, site of the winter meetings. According to the Washington Post, Nats veteran Dmitri Young - the older brother of former Rays OF Delmon Young - was also at the meeting and he is expected to serve as a mentor to Dukes.

Also, the Rays lost utility infielder Josh Wilson on waivers to the Pirates. The Rays must have taken him off the 40-man roster to make room for an expected addition. And there is chatter that the Mariners are interested in RHP Edwin Jackson with the Rays, as at least one scout said, interssted in 1B/DH Ben Broussard, who could end up the lefthanded bat they are looking for.

Trading Dukes seems to make it more likely the lefthanded hitter the Rays are seeking will have to be an outfielder. As it stands right now, they'd go into the season with Rocco Baldelli and Jonny Gomes as their two options, and obviously there are questions about Baldelli's health. Plus they need a DH.

Gibson, 20, was a fourth-round pick by Washington in 2006, and was cited by Baseball America as having the best changeup and best control of pitchers in the Nationals system, and previously had been named as having the best curveball. He is the son of former major-leagur Paul Gibson, who pitched for the Tigers, Mets and Yankees from 1988-96.

There had been some circumstantial evidence earlier in the day that the Dukes deal was in the works, including word that Nationals GM Jim Bowden was overheard on his cell phone yesterday at the airport talking to someone named "Elijah.'' Both teams have scheduled announcements at 5 p.m. Plus, the deal would explain why Dukes, the troubled outfielder, hasn't played since his latest eruption after being ejected from a Dominican League game on Thursday night.

Dukes was dropped from the Rays active roster in June after a series of off-field and personal issues, including allegedly threatening his wife and kids. He also has had numerous legal problems, most recently a charge of marijuana possession. Dukes recently told Licey teammates he would welcome a chance to play elsewhere, likely figuring it would help to be away from the Tampa area where he had many of his problems.

He had been having a successful and somewhat uneventful stint in the Dominican Republic until Thursday, when he was ejected after a strikeout, charged the umpire and had to be restrained by teammates. Earlier in the game he gestured at fans.

The manager of the Licey team, Tim Tolman, who also happens to be the Nationals third-base coach, said that Dukes has left the Dominican for good because he missed his family.

"He is not coming back,'' Tolman said from the Dominican on Monday. "He left on good terms with everyone, with his teammates and with the front office. Yes, he got ejected the other night, but that always happens in these games. He had gone home for about 10 days for Thanksgiving and then came back for a couple games but said he wanted to go home to be with his family. That's not uncommon.''

Nationals GM Jim Bowden is known for his willingness to take chances with troubled players, and also tends to be infatuated with athletes who have extraordinary tools, as Dukes does.

Comments

[Beaneater]

The D-rays will get help in the draft. I bet they will most likely draft Pedro Alvarez from Vanderbilt (He's David Price's teammate). He can play either corner and DH. He is probably the best hitter in college baseball. He may also be ready for the bigs by the end of the 08 season.

[jeff]

I will still wear my "You Dead Dawg" (the front page of the tbt issue that wasn't available at the Trop the day it was published!?) t-shirt next year in memory of the young (no pun) lad! I hope he turns the corner, especially for all those children he has to support?

[Vinnie]

They've traded away twice as many white guys over the last couple of weeks.

Calling them "bigots" and "racists" is just plain ignorant.

[mrincredible]

R. Walker is correct. Five black players on the roster..after the Jackson trade there will be two. This organization is so off base about EVERYTHING. The most pathetic franchise in the history of professional sports!!

[josh]

Dukes trade is fantastic, he was a ticking timebomb and we got a sweet prospect. The Edwin Jackson trade for Ben Broussard is decent, but I think we should try and get a better bat. If Edwin Jackson has trade value I would trade him, because I honestly don't think he is going to be consistent enough to be effective, not anytime soon. Ben Broussard is decent, but the Rays should definitely try and get another left handed bat.

[Bonks]

Yeah, I say boooo to Jackson for Broussard. Maybe Broussard and another prospect, but 1-for-1 I'd be upset.

[Tony]

Anyone who thinks this wasn't a good trade is delusional. Dukes had ZERO trade value, and the Nationals were the only team even interested. Chances are the Rays would have cut him if they just waited. There is no way the Rays were going to let him play here again. And it's not as if they got nothing in return. This kid was a fourth round pick in 2006, and he was one of the best pitching prospects the Nationals had.

[Dave]

Not keen on the Jackson for Broussard rumor.

[Gibson]

RoS, Gibson dominated that league until his last two starts when he tried to pitch while he had mono. He had a 1.74 era before those last two starts. Baseball America had just ranked him the Nats #8 prospect, so he isn't a top prospect but he isn't just any low level pitcher.

[Ray of Sunshine]

Well, the Rays have certainly improved their "good citizen" status by unloading Delmon and Dukes, but have they improved the team? I'm still not thrilled by the Delmon trade, but I've come around to seeing the reasoning. But Elijah for a short season A level pitcher with mediocre stats? That was a giveaway. I still have the mock 2010 Sports Illustrated cover with Dukes and Delmon on it proclaming Rays to win it all. Looks like the SI cover curse works even if it's a fake.

[Bigotry]

Yea, and the Rays already lost the white vote last year when they didn't protect Josh Hamilton because of his off field problems. I guess they still have the hispanic vote.

[Robert Walker]

So much for the African Amertican fans or the African American vote on the ballpark boondoggle. What a disgrace!!
What bigotry!!

[mrincredible]

Count me impressed at the moves the Rays are making this offseason. Delmon was talented but was a timebomb waiting to go off, so he's gone. Elijah was talented but was a volcano waiting to blow, so he's gone. Someone show me the offensive holes in this lineup. Pena? Aki? Bartlett? Longoria? CC? BJ? I'm even okay with Gomes or Baldelli in right, if Rocco ever plays again. Maybe Ruggiano deserves a look? Navarro has to have some help behind the plate, but his hitting came around the second half this season. The DH is anybody's guess. I would pursue a Jackson for Broussard deal with the Mariners with the quickness. The bullpen looks so much better. The rotation is looking good. Spring Training can't get here soon enough!

[frantman2]

Glad to see Dukes move on and that we got something decent in return. It's scary, though, how much stock we're putting in Baldelli coming back healthy.

[Robert Walker]

It is unwise to use the term "circumstantial evidence" in any news story about Dukes! It's too early to tell whether the Devil Rays are turning the corner, but at least they can no longer be blamed for displaying invincible ignorance in their handling of their roster and their fans' sensibilities. I wish Dukes well in D.C. or any place else out of range.

[Robert Walker]

It is unwise to use the term "circumstantial evidence" in any news story about Dukes! It's too early to tell whether the Devil Rays are turning the corner, but at least they can no longer be blamed for displaying invincible ignorance in their handling of their roster and their fans' sensibilities. I wish Dukes well in D.C. or any place else out of range.

[Stefan]

Getting Gibson was a nice deal. I didn't think the Rays would be able to pry a good young LHP away from the Nats for Dukes, who did not have a whole lot of trade value at this point.Listening and reading about the MLB meetings that are now taking place, almost everyone is looking for pitching.And,at the July trading deadline,teams are always looking for more pitching.Acquiring good arms is always good,both for the parent team and for pawns in future deals.The price for established MLB pitchers is getting insane.Teams are better served developing as much pitching in their organization as possible.

[bigmike]

Oh well another 90 loss season for the Rays unless they start filling some holes in the batting order and outfield. You can all the pitching in the world but unless you can score some runs....zouch!

[Frasier]

Hilarious, Dmitri Young did such a stellar job shaping his brother (Delmon) and helping with his anger managment issues, that now he's actually being consulted to mentor Elijah Dukes? I can't wait for the Lifetime movie, "Dukes" of Hazzard II to come out.

[Whitey]

The D Rays were unfairly hording all of the african american talent in mlb; W/Hunter leaving Minn for the Angels, Young had to be traded to the Twinkies and now the Nationals have Dukes and the kid from Bradenton via the Mets; the balance of 3 black players per team is starting to take shape. We still have Jackson, Carl and BJ so all is well w/diversity. Nice Job - Whitey

[al]

Dukes gone... finally, a sound move.

[Mike Lewis]

"....questions about Baldellis' health"

I would be quesitoning Gomes play in the field.

[Stefan]

My guess....Kory Castro a left hand hitter who plays both 1B & OF. Forget Cordero, the report was for a minor leaguer.

[Scott]

Duke for Cordero? No way. NO ONE in Washington's organization is that stupid.

[mattyblunts]

the nationals are going to get their own episode of america's most wanted...

[Charlie O. Finley]

I speculate a Class A loogie that none of us has ever heard of and never will again.

[Scott]

I don't care if we get a pack of sunflower seeds for the guy. Get him off the team and let him become somebody else's problem.

[Arcthelad09]

Dukes to Nationals?
[quote]

http://blogs.tampabay.com/rays/2007/12/dukes-to-nation.html

The Rays appear to finally have had enough of Elijah Dukes?

The teams have not confirmed anything, but word at the winter meetings this afternoon was that the Rays are trading Dukes to the Nationals. No word yet on what the Rays are getting back. The Washington Post is also reporting this.

There is plenty of circumstantial evidence, including word that Nationals GM Jim Bowden was overheard on his cell phone yesterday at the airport talking to someone named "Elijah.''Both teams have scheduled announcements at 5 p.m. Plus, the deal would explain why Dukes, the troubled outfielder, hasn't played since his latest eruption after being ejected from a Dominican League game on Thursday night.
[/quote]

Update Tampa near deal for Cordero for DUkes?

[quote]A friend of mine at a Houston radio station just told me that the Astros are no longer able to acquire Chad Cordero from the Nats because he is about to be traded to the D-Rays for Dukes.[/quote]

[Bobby]

Chad Cordero or Jon Rauch perhaps?

[Boyle]

I would trade him for a cooler of gatorade. He is a cancer and always will be unless he gets professional help for his addictions.

[Borat]

I likea Elijah. He isa player number one! I namea my goat in Kazakhstan after him because he makesa games fun to watch!

[Bobby]

Any "speculation" on who we might get in return?