The Rays site has this
Troubled Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes has been traded to the Nationals for a Minor League player, according to a source close to the Rays.
The unknown player has not yet been notified, which has delayed the deal being announced.
Ken Rosenthal has this conjecture
The identity of the minor-league player is not yet known, but he is not believed to be on the 40-man roster.
I do not believe it is going to be a top 30 guys not on the roster (no Marrero or any of the Vermonster arms). I am thinking names like Clint Everts or Larry Broadway.
More to follow.
A request was made for a scouting report on Dukes. With credit and thanks to Baseball America from 2005
Strengths: Dukes is an incredible athlete with all-star ability. He makes solid contact, has at least 20-homer power and plays with all-out aggression. He has plus speed and range, as well as one of the strongest arms in the organization. He has demonstrated improved control of the strike zone.
Weaknesses: If he can’t accept authority and develop discipline, Dukes will fall short of his potential. That said, he’s dedicated to the game. His average suffers when he tries too hard to hit for power.
The Future: From a tools standpoint, everything is in place for Dukes to be a prototype right fielder. The Devil Rays are working with him to help him reach that potential. On the field, Delmon Young will be a formidable roadblock to Dukes playing right field in Tampa Bay.
DaveR | 03-Dec-07 at 6:02 pm | Permalink
Thanks for the scouting report. Does anyone have Duke’s rapsheet?
NatsInNC | 03-Dec-07 at 6:12 pm | Permalink
From the ESPN transactions page @ 5:12pm:
Acquired outfielder Elijah Dukes from the Tampa Bay Rays for pitcher Glenn Gibson.
phil dunn | 03-Dec-07 at 6:19 pm | Permalink
It is now being reported that the Nats are sending a minor league pitcher to the Rays for Dukes.
Ryan Sullivan | 03-Dec-07 at 6:20 pm | Permalink
Ouch-
I think we might be giving up too much here, especially since Dukes is such a risk… would have preferred someone else… what do you think everyone??
Louis J. | 03-Dec-07 at 6:20 pm | Permalink
NO-NO ! Dukes for Gibson..if true-bad, bad deal……….. a trouble maker for a model citizen and a great pitching prospect…..Say it ain’t so!
A DC Wonk | 03-Dec-07 at 6:54 pm | Permalink
Why do we need Dukes and Milledge? Are we back to a four-outfielder problem again? Thoughts, anyone?
Dick | 03-Dec-07 at 6:58 pm | Permalink
What a mess! Gibson can really pitch!
Pilchard | 03-Dec-07 at 7:00 pm | Permalink
Gibson is a really strong prospect. I know that Nats have a ton of talented pitchers in the low-minors, but Gibson is a very solid pitcher with a very good makeup. Given that Dukes is a time-bomb, that is more to give up for Dukes than I would have thought.
Tofu Dog | 03-Dec-07 at 7:09 pm | Permalink
The key was when Milledge said the day of the trade that Bowden had been following him for six years–his words. Bowden gets a bee in his bonnet about someone and he cannot quit. It doesn’t matter whether it makes sense or not. This one sucks. It puts Milledge right back where he was in NYC–not knowing whether he is the CF or not. Instead of Dimitri and Manny Acta being a good influence on a young ballplayer, we now have a critical mass of problem kids that will tax Acta and Young and anyone else. Giving up Glenn Gibson for this is just stupid. The only good thing about it is that we do not play Tampa so that one day, when Gibson is a quality starter, we will not have to face him.
Marcus | 03-Dec-07 at 7:29 pm | Permalink
I like the move. The Nationals did not have much young talent before this week. Now we’re amassing young former BA top 50 prospects by the day. Yes Glenn Gibson has a good make up, yes he did well in the minors last year, yes he has potential. But you’ve got to also remember it was just short season vermont, and he was picked in the fourth round for a reason. Jack McGeary, Josh Smoker, and Colton Willems were first round prospects for a reason as well. All three looked good in short season too, but once again it is just short season. Who knows how any of them will make the jump. But from a scouting perspective, McGeary, Smoker, and Willems all have a better shot than Gibson. All this is without mentioning our non-highschool pitchers, Jordan Zimmerman and Adrian Alaniz. We will be OK!
On the other hand we just recieved a major league ready 20+ homer guy with all the tools. Who with a change of scenery will be given a chance to live up to his potential.
Think of it this way last year we had to pull Maxwell up from High class A to come play ball with us. We were watching games with Langerhans, B. Watson, and Nook Logan playing centerfield. I’d say it was time for an upgrade in the outfield. Now we have Milledge, Dukes, and Maxwell who will all be competing for CF, etc… plus Pena and Kearns. What is there to complain about. We are so much more flexible now. I for one am very excited as a fan!!
Tofu Dog | 03-Dec-07 at 8:09 pm | Permalink
Marcus, how is this for a taste test. This from Capital Punishment:
“Jim, when you acquired celebrated asshole Jose Guillen you were so confident in his ability to be a model citizen that you said that you would be happy to leave your children with him. Will you say the same for Dukes?” How about you Marcus? you willing to leave your kids with someone who threatened to kill his own. Hope I’m wrong, but one thing is for sure, there is no comparison between Dukes and Maxwell. I would rather watch Maxwell hit .220 than Dukes hit .300 and worry when he will slug his wife and children.
Marcus | 03-Dec-07 at 8:20 pm | Permalink
lmao Tofu I’m in college I don’t even have children…I never compared Dukes to Maxwell. I compared the talent we had in our outfield at the end of last season Langerhans, Maxwell, Watson, Logan, Church, Pena, and Kearns. To the talent we have now Milledge, Pena, Kearns, Dukes, Logan and Langerhans. Are we better Tofu?
Maxwell to me seems like a streaky hitter so far let him develop in AA next year and if he becomes something we can either use him in the future say Dukes/Milledge/Pena don’t pan out. Or we can ship him off for a pitching prospect.
Gibson may well become something one day but once again it was just short season Vermont he’s far from even a proven minor leaguer not to mention an impact pro player. Dukes headaches and all has contributed in the minors and majors, as did Guillen headaches and all. Dukes has done all this with all the off field issues imagine what the man can do when he focuses just on baseball!!! Will he turn the corner only time will tell but from a talent standpoint I’m very excited about the team. Not to mention he’s under our control for the next five years.
Plus as Brian mentioned in his most recent post Gibson is considered a back of the rotation guy. We already have young back of the rotation guys: Matt Chico, John Lannan, Joel Hanrahan, etc… Plus we have young left handers with more talent than him Smoker, McGeary. What we need is top of the rotation prospects in our system. All of this makes him movable for a high risk/high reward type player like Dukes.
bdrube | 03-Dec-07 at 8:25 pm | Permalink
This quality of this trade will depend a lot on the Duke-Stir’s behavior from here on out. Yes, some guys who act like shitheads when they are young DO have the light go on and become decent citizens (ask anyone in Bawl-More about how Ray Lewis has behaved after nearly getting sent up for murder.)
I’m all for giving a guy a 2nd chance. What I’m not into is giving a guy a 3rd, 4th or 5th chance. If Duke pops two dozen dingers next year and wins us a bunch of games, while restraining himself from doing the same on the home front, I predict he’ll quickly become a fan favorite in D.C.
Kay Rock Starr | 12-Dec-07 at 8:57 pm | Permalink
Now, now…. come on you guys!! Let’s give my lil brother the benefit of the doubt here! This should help him out as much as possible, at least he’s away from all the GOLD DIGGERS HERE IN TAMPA (Ex: His ex-wife Nishea Gilbert)! Let’s just hope and pray he overstands the concept of needing to make a huge change and a difference in his life! I (we) will always support him as much as possible and I can’t wait to see you all in the crowd! You will be seeing much of me! hee hee….Go get’em E! Merry Christmas everyone, and congrats lil brother!!!!!
Love your big sis,
Katrina ;-)