Eli Dukes released by Washington

[liveforoctober]

Can't say I saw this coming.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=5002750

Seems to have put his past behind him? Young right-handed bat with a ton of power. Still raw. What kind of comparison do we get between him and Gerut?

[endaround]

Gerut is signed and can play CF. Dukes could have an arrest warrant pending.

[JohnBriggs12]

Pure talent wise, I'd take him over Hart. Endaround is a bit overstating it as nothing has come out in the past couple years but prior to that he wasn't exactly been a model citizen.

[endaround]

This makes no sense unless Dukes did something to really upset the Nats front office, be it professionaly or personally, something that caused the Nats to dump him without even trying to get something back for a guy making next to nothing.

[kramnoj]

It would be a mistake to assume that the Nats didn't try to get anything for him. http://voices.washingtonp...ijah_dukes_released.html

 

There was no interest in a trade for him.

[jhart05]

I would pick him up and throw him down in AAA.

 

Why not.

[TooLiveBrew]

As long as endaround isn't right on an arrest warrant, imo Dukes would be worth the risk for a team like KC, TOR, or SD -- teams that would have PAs for him at the MLB level if he hits enough to warrant a call-up. The Mets should probably even look into it.

[Schlitz001]

No matter how desperate my team is, I'd be very hesitant to pick up Dukes. He must really be a bad egg for a team like the Nationals to drop someone with that kind of talent, age and contract control.

[areacodes]

The Washington Post talked to GM Mike Rizzo who indicated that Dukes was indeed a problem in the clubhouse, though they claim it was "a performance-based decision."

 

"The clubhouse will be more united," Rizzo said. "We'll have a better feel around the ballclub. We'll gain just by that alone."

[brewerguy71]

He would fit right in in Milwaukee's inner city. I say the Brewers should sign him up, buy him an apartment on 35th and Center, and youve got yourself an instant RF who is better than most of the OF in place. He'd be in his element, and happy to pursue his career.

[sheethead]

I am shocked to learn that Elijah Dukes has his own camp. No doubt every person in that camp is paid to be there.

 

I read further into the comments of the article and saw a poster say, "And the Skins just signed Rex Grossman. Ugh." I got a chuckle out of that.

[NievesNoNO]

Interesting. I don't think I want him. He's still young and has time to reform himself so to speak. There's a time when a person just needs to grow up, hopefully he reaches that point because he certainly has some talent. On a good team with some proven veteran leadership he might do all right, but I thought the same thing about Milton Bradley and that didn't turn out so good in Chicago.

[Diskono]

Great fit for the Brewers. With Helfaer Field right in the parking lot, he'll never be late for work.

[djoctagone]

with the time off, big pappi (that's what i call him) can spend some quality time with his kids.

[AdvantageSchneider]

Is Gerut's contract guranteed? Dukes is cheaper and younger. If Edmonds is our 5th OF, we don't need 3 guys that can play CF. We need another right handed bat off the bench.

 

Frankly I'd be all for picking him up, but I doubt Doug will.

[dlk9s]

Frankly I'd be all for picking him up, but I doubt Doug will.

I hope you're right. Dukes is a nutjob. Please keep him far, far away from the Brewers' clubhouse.

[Funketown]

The Washington Nationals released him. I'm not saying their management is infallible, but this seems to be a strong signal that Dukes is just as much of a nut-job as we all thought.

[GAME05]

Frankly I'd be all for picking him up, but I doubt Doug will.

I hope you're right. Dukes is a nutjob. Please keep him far, far away from the Brewers' clubhouse.

no way i'd want him. the headaches far outweigh the talent.....and he's got a ton of talent.

 

to a lesser extent, we already had this sort of clubhouse problem with Alex Sanchez.

[RockCoCougars]

no way i'd want him. the headaches far outweigh the talent.....and he's got a ton of talent.

 

to a lesser extent, we already had this sort of clubhouse problem with Alex Sanchez.

Yes, but Sanchez had no talent. Why not give Dukes a low risk deal and can him if he becomes a problem?

[jhart05]

Why not give him another chance.

 

Maybe being released woke him up a bit.

[diener34]

He's 25-26

 

Never played a full season in the bigs. Career .242 hitter, he can't steal a base, and has a fielding % of .972

 

Forget the off field accusations...he's just not a good player, and at 25-26 he's on the very fringe of potential stage.

 

I wouldn't care if DM bought and stashed him Corey Patterson style, but why even waste a spot in Nashville for him? Theres already enough average OF'ers on the pile.

[logan82]

Never played a full season in the bigs. Career .242 hitter, he can't steal a base, and has a fielding % of .972

 

Career .349/.421/.771. UZR has him about average as a corner outfielder. Minor league splits Total Zone seems to indicate a little below average.

[Tbadder]

We need to get our collective mojo going so that the Cardinals sign him. No way I wouldn't pay to see LaRussa and Dukes go at it.

[Nottso]

We need to get our collective mojo going so that the Cardinals sign him. No way I wouldn't pay to see LaRussa and Dukes go at it.

It'd never happen; wouldn't be classy.

 

[thumperden]

Does Dukie hack on 2-0? If he doesn't, there may be an icecube in Hades chance he'll get a 2nd chance...I don't think Milwaukee is the place for it for all the above mentioned reasons.