Elijah Dukes?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Can he play CF?

 

If so, he would be an interesting target. With the Rays posting for Iwamura, Cantu moves to first. With Crawford, Baldelli, Young, Gomes and likely Upton all looking for time in the OF, maybe they would deal Dukes.

 

Even with his character issues, the kid can play.

 

Could the Cubs pry him away using only minor leaguers if we included a high ceiling guy like Veal or Paweleck? It would be worth pursuing in my opinion.

[Jazz]

His character issues make me wary about taking him on. But if it cost us Pawelek and Colvin, I'd be up for it. He has GREAT patience, and has so much about him that would add a great deal to this team. He is toolsy, which Hendry loves. I'd definately look into getting him .

[WrigleyField 22]

What exactly are the character concerns? He looks good, thats for sure.

[Rob]

What exactly are the character concerns? He looks good, thats for sure.

 

He's no Ted Bundy... but someday he might be as useful to society.

[Butterscup1679666578]

What exactly are the character concerns? He looks good, thats for sure.

 

Dukes, an outfielder for Triple-A Durham, has been suspended at least twice by the Rays (and benched another time) and once by the International League this season and has been ejected from two games. He has had an altercation with coach Richie Hebner in the Bulls clubhouse, a fight with teammate Ryan Knox in a hotel lobby (which led to a 15-game suspension) and a dugout incident with Bulls manager John Tamargo.

 

http://www.sptimes.com/2006/08/02/Rays/Suspended_Dukes_threa.shtml

 

It sucks too, because he's going to be a stud unless his attitude takes himself out of the league. There is a lot of baggage with this guy.

[NorthsideAvenger]

His character issues make me wary about taking him on. But if it cost us Pawelek and Colvin, I'd be up for it. He has GREAT patience, and has so much about him that would add a great deal to this team. He is toolsy, which Hendry loves. I'd definately look into getting him .

 

No thank you. I'm thinking more along the lines of say.....Guzman/ptbnl.

[WrigleyField 22]

If the price is right and he can play CF, I'd take a chance.

 

Just think of the comic potential if him and Lou go at it!

[CubColtPacer]

If the price is right and he can play CF, I'd take a chance.

 

Just think of the comic potential if him and Lou go at it!

 

That's the problem. Piniella is fine with young players as long as they have the right attitude (which it looks to me like all our youngsters have right now). Dukes would be benched and then traded within a month into the season, similar but even worse than how Bret Boone was handled in Seattle.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

Dukes or Upton could actually be available now. Upton is positionless and both he and the orginization seem to be losing paitence with one another.

 

Personally, the guy should be a SS right now. The errors could be annoying, but he's a sick athlete and he's only 22.

 

Both of these guys are studs, and I would love to have either one.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

There's one big advantage to getting Dukes. He's a major league ready player who hasn't even begun his arbitration clock.

 

I'd have no problem doing a Veal + Harvey deal for him. I might even toss in a major league reliever like Novoa.

[mhuber92211]

meh. I'd rather have Baldelli

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

meh. I'd rather have Baldelli

 

Well, so would I. But the difference in player cost between the two would be huge.

 

In fact, I'm not sure we could put together a package for Baldelli but we likely could get Dukes.

[TheDude]

meh. I'd rather have Baldelli

 

I would too, but Vance is thinking ahead. With 3 contracts like Soriano, Ramirez, and Lee, the team must look to cheaper ML ready talent for 2008 and 2009 at at least one position, or we're looking at an expensive and aging team with little depth in a few years.

[CubinNY]

This kid needs someone to help him through this mess. Tampa should ask Andre Dawson to council him. It is a shame. He really needs some perspective.

[davearm]

Talent aside, the off-the-field stuff has gotten so bad that the guy's basically got no future with the DRays. I thought the rumor was that they were trying to sell him really cheap midseason but got no takers.

 

Maybe I'm the only one that feels this way, but don't guys like that sell for Mateo/Ryu type prices, not Veal/Pawelek prices?

 

BTW I'd love to get him as a 4th OF/Jones platooner.

[KingKongvs.Godzilla]

meh. I'd rather have Baldelli

 

Well, so would I. But the difference in player cost between the two would be huge.

 

In fact, I'm not sure we could put together a package for Baldelli but we likely could get Dukes.

 

Beyond the fact that Baldelli is a long term CFer, I'm willing to bet Dukes outhits him. Considering that Dukes could probably handle CF in the short term, IMO he is far more valuable.

 

In a few years it might be a problem though, Dukes is built like a linebacker. He's probably going to end up a RFer.

 

Still, the guy can hit and has imrpoved every step of the way. I could see him becoming a .290/.390/.500 player with decent enough defense. Thats huge for anyone.

 

That attitude though...I don't know. Most guys like Dukes and Bradley are actually pretty nice people. I've heard tons of stories of Dukes and Bradley (Dukes is compared to Bradley alot) being some of the nicest and most intelligent people. It's when you do something to mess with that person that they become the assholes that people hear about.

[Northsider]

On Dukes' attitude problems; haven't quite a few of the Tampa players become frustrated with that organization, even to the point where they'd call it out? Huff, I think, became frustrated with the organization, as did Upton (as was mentioned). I think I also read a quote from Young saying that everyone looked at it as way to get into the league, but would never consider staying there longer than that. It occurs to me that the whole organization may just be rotten, in which case a player who already has a bit of a temper might get pushed well beyond their limits.

 

Therefore, I'd say, if Tampa is getting frustrated with him, try and snag him on the cheap and see if his temper simmers down in an organization that so many other players feel comfortable with. If he cools, we've got a heck of a steal. If he still causes problems, just cut him and we haven't lost much.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

He has the athletic ability and talent to play CF, but I don't think he'd be able to do it long term. He's perfectly suited for RF, imo.

[Jazz]

He has the athletic ability and talent to play CF, but I don't think he'd be able to do it long term. He's perfectly suited for RF, imo.

 

I don't have a problem with that. Soriano is going to be a future LF IMO anyway. I don't buy into that RF for years to come deal .

[mhuber92211]

meh. I'd rather have Baldelli

 

Well, so would I. But the difference in player cost between the two would be huge.

 

In fact, I'm not sure we could put together a package for Baldelli but we likely could get Dukes.

 

I lean the other way on this. I think Baldelli is more easily attainable. He has the "injury prone" tag firmly on him and other GMs will shy away. I would think that a 3 pitcher deal ala Pierre last offseason would do it. I would offer Marmol/Marshall/C AA Prospect and get it done.

[YearofDaCubs]

meh. I'd rather have Baldelli

 

Well, so would I. But the difference in player cost between the two would be huge.

 

In fact, I'm not sure we could put together a package for Baldelli but we likely could get Dukes.

 

I lean the other way on this. I think Baldelli is more easily attainable. He has the "injury prone" tag firmly on him and other GMs will shy away. I would think that a 3 pitcher deal ala Pierre last offseason would do it. I would offer Marmol/Marshall/C AA Prospect and get it done.

There's no way a package like that will get Baldelli. TB has every intention to hold on to Baldelli. They even extended his contract through 2011.

[questionmarkgrace]

beyond his attitude problem he just had surgery done on his knee.

 

as per rotoworld 11/19/06

 

Elijah Dukes had precautionary knee surgery last week, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

 

It was also supposed to be precautionary when the Rays hauled Dukes out of the AFL because of left knee irritation. The problem couldn't been all that minor if he needed surgery. It'd be nice if the team would offer up a few more details.

[bannor10]

There's one big advantage to getting Dukes. He's a major league ready player who hasn't even begun his arbitration clock.

 

I'd have no problem doing a Veal + Harvey deal for him. I might even toss in a major league reliever like Novoa.

 

 

Veal in any deal is a high price...If the Cubs are to trade him they better get someone with proven major league hitting ability...We've heard for years about can't miss prospects that miss

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

There's one big advantage to getting Dukes. He's a major league ready player who hasn't even begun his arbitration clock.

 

I'd have no problem doing a Veal + Harvey deal for him. I might even toss in a major league reliever like Novoa.

 

 

Veal in any deal is a high price...If the Cubs are to trade him they better get someone with proven major league hitting ability...We've heard for years about can't miss prospects that miss

 

Wouldn't that also apply to Veal?

 

Why does Veal have more value than Dukes? Dukes is more likley to be an impact major leaguer than Veal.

 

On any prospect list, Dukes is rated higher than Veal. If we had Dukes and the Rays had Veal, I bet we would be saying we wouldn't want to trade Veal for Dukes. To get something, you have to give up something.

[NorthsideAvenger]

There's one big advantage to getting Dukes. He's a major league ready player who hasn't even begun his arbitration clock.

 

I'd have no problem doing a Veal + Harvey deal for him. I might even toss in a major league reliever like Novoa.

 

 

Veal in any deal is a high price...If the Cubs are to trade him they better get someone with proven major league hitting ability...We've heard for years about can't miss prospects that miss

 

Wouldn't that also apply to Veal?

 

Why does Veal have more value than Dukes? Dukes is more likley to be an impact major leaguer than Veal.

 

On any prospect list, Dukes is rated higher than Veal. If we had Dukes and the Rays had Veal, I bet we would be saying we wouldn't want to trade Veal for Dukes. To get something, you have to give up something.

 

True, if I (or the Cubs) were to trade Veal, you would think you want a PROVEN major league hitter, not another unproven prospect. With that said, I am a believer that pitching HAS MORE VALUE then hitting, since it is harder to find. And I wouldn't trade Veal for Dukes. Veal for Baldelli....maybe. Veal for Crawford, I'd seriously considered. Veal for Young, I would also seriously considered. But Veal for Dukes would have to take alot of CONVINCING to make it happen.