Elijah Dukes
He’s available. Would the Yankees have an interest in him?
I’m not going to comment on this one. But, I will share this background from his Wiki page -
In 1996, Dukes’ father was convicted of second-degree murder. One year later, Dukes was arrested for the first time. Dukes has been arrested at least three times for battery, and once for assault.[7] According to court records, he fathered at least five children with four women between 2003 and 2006.[7]
On May 23, 2007, it was reported that his wife filed a restraining order after he threatened to kill her.[8] On June 12, a 17-year-old foster child who was living in the care of a relative of Dukes accused him of impregnating her.[9] Police said the sex was apparently consensual.[9] When the girl confronted Dukes, he allegedly got angry and threw a bottle of Gatorade at her.[9]
Dukes has received anger-management training.[7] When Dukes was traded to the Nationals, the team also hired an ex-police officer in the role of “Special Assistant: Player Concerns”. This person accompanies Dukes everywhere to ensure that he keeps himself free of trouble.[7]
To add him to the depth at AAA in order to push one of the Winfree/Golson/Gorecki out? Sure, why not? To add him to the mix with Thames/Winn/Gardner? Hell no. We already have three shitty OF’ers competing in MLB camp, what would a fourth accomplish?
@ MJ Recanati:
We already have three shitty OF’ers competing in MLB camp, what would a fourth accomplish?
Tell us how you REALLY feel about those guys.
@ clintfsu813:
I’m happy to put an asterisk on Gardner and give him 2010 to prove that he’s not just a 4th outfielder. We already know Winn’s washed up and Thames is just a pinch-hitter. I don’t think my classification of the Thames/Winn/Gardner trio as “shitty” was that unfair.
Sure, take a flyer on him. Wouldn’t cost anything.
Via the Wash-Post:
General manager Mike Rizzo called the release “a performance-based decision” but also implied Dukes’s place in the clubhouse adversely affected the Nationals. Rizzo said the Nationals “will be a more cohesive, united group” without Dukes.
“The clubhouse will be more united,” Rizzo said. “We’ll have a better feel around the ballclub. We’ll gain just by that alone.”
The Nationals discussed the possibility of parting ways with Dukes this winter, Rizzo said. The Nationals “made several inquiries to many” teams, Rizzo said. “We found there was no interest in a trade for Elijah.” The Nationals could have also optioned Dukes to the minor leagues, but they felt he had peaked in his development, Rizzo said.
$10 million+ talent attached to a more or less sociopathic personality.
A very high risk, not as high reward gamble the Yanks don’t need to take.
Steve Lombardi wrote:
I think their general suckiness adversely affected them
@ Evan3457:
They should, if they’re planning on running a guy like Thames out there.
Raf wrote:
As much as I agree with this sentiment — Thames is fairly crap — I wouldn’t sign on for bringing Dukes in. I don’t buy into the whole chemistry thing but there is something to be said for not bringing in a total nutjob into the mix. Not much good would come from it, in my opinion.
a minor league contract wouldnt be a bad idea. theres alot of untapped talent there. so take a shot at him (for a minor league contract) wouldnt be a bad idea. you never know maybe putting him in an organization like the yankees would change is mentality and get the most out of him.
wouldnt cost anything? a flier? have you seen this guys act? it would certainly cost. what untapped talent? hes had plenty of chances to be a player. he has a 2 cent head.
stay far away from him
I like what RAB had to say:
http://riveraveblues.com/2010/03/the-obligatory-elijah-dukes-post-25285/
Jake1 wrote:
Yes I have. I’ve also seen the acts of Rod Scurry, Pascual Perez, Darryl Strawberry, Steve Howe, Dwight Gooden, Luis Polonia, etc, etc, etc etc…
I would not be against it. Dukes is an extremely talented player, and its not like people don’t mature. Just because he had all sorts of troubles at 19-20 does not mean that they will continue at 26. People change and mature over time, and lots of players who were troubled at 22 ended up being model citizens at 30. With the amount of talent he has, a minor league contract would definitely not hurt.
Raf wrote:
Most of these guys were self-destructive. Dukes is a threat to himself AND to others.
MJ Recanati wrote:
As was Billy Martin.
At any rate, wouldn’t be the first time the Yanks picked up a malcontent, probably won’t be the last. Sign him to a MiL contract, if he acts up, out the door he goes. The Yanks picked up Sidney Ponson twice, I see no reason they couldn’t give Dukes a test run to see what he has left.
I wouldn’t sign Dukes. Not worth the low percentage play in this pressure-cooker environment. You know who SHOULD take a chance on him?
The San Francisco Giants.