The Washington Nationals' website confirms that the team has a very serious interest in troubled Rays OF Elijah Dukes, and one quoted source puts the Nats' chances of acquiring him at between 6 to 7 on a 1-10 scale. The article goes on to report that because of the risks involved, Washington GM Jim Bowden will not be trading any player of significance to Tampa Bay. There is actually a bit of comic relief in the article, concentrated in the quoted portion below:
If they do acquire Dukes, the Nationals must have a plan in place to make sure that he's successful on the field and a solid citizen off of it, according to the source. It's believed that Nats manager Manny Acta and first baseman Dmitri Young most likely would be Dukes' mentors if the trade happens.
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Let's see how well that works out for you. But wait, there's more:
Dmitri sees himself as someone who could teach a younger player the facts of life, both on and off the field.
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"It's all about a second chance. I was given a second chance. At the same token, Dukes deserves a second chance. From what my brother told me, he is a great kid. A change of scenery would do him good -- get him to the National League. He would get a second chance, a clean slate."
Glad to see that Young is getting his information from a party that clearly has the right perspective on the matter.