Elijah Dukes News: Pro Sports Daily

In surprising move, Washington Nationals release outfielder Elijah Dukes

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March 18

Washington Post

"Elijah Dukes's tenure with the Washington Nationals ended Wednesday when the team unconditionally released him, a decision the team said was made for reasons pertaining only to baseball. The move left Dukes stunned and the Nationals without a set right fielder with the season less than three weeks away. General Manager Mike Rizzo called Dukes's release "a performance-based decision" and that "no singular incident" led to the decision. But Rizzo also implied that Dukes's presence in the clubhouse adversely affected the Nationals, saying they "will be a more cohesive group" without him. "The clubhouse will be more united," Rizzo said. "We'll have a better feel around the ballclub. We'll ..."

Elijah Dukes released

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March 17

Washington Post

"The Nationals this morning granted outfielder Elijah Dukes, a player brimming with potential yet haunted by a controversial past, his unconditional release. Manager Jim Riggleman said it was a strictly baseball decision and not related to any off-the-field problems. "We like some of our other options in right field, really," Riggleman said. "Elijah was great.""

Slumping Dukes Is Sent To Class AAA Syracuse

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July 2

Washington Post

"The Washington Nationals sent Elijah Dukes to Class AAA Syracuse on Wednesday morning, saying Dukes was not a "finished product" and needed to play every day rather than sit on the bench in the majors. The move came in response to the team's acquisition Tuesday of middle reliever Sean Burnett and center fielder Nyjer Morgan in a trade that sent Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan to the Pittsburgh Pirates. "I don't think we're going to be doing him any help by just sitting him here," Acta said before Wednesday's game against the Florida Marlins at Land Shark Stadium. Acting general manager Mike Rizzo called the demotion of Dukes "a pure baseball decision" designed to ensure Dukes would ..."

Dukes Pays Estranged Wife's Legal Fees in Time

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June 6

Washington Post

"Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes avoided the possibility of a 90-day jail sentence yesterday by paying $39,767 in outstanding legal fees several hours before the court-appointed deadline. One week earlier, a Hillsborough (Fla.) Circuit Court judge had ordered that Dukes must pay the money, owed to attorneys representing his estranged wife, by 5 p.m. yesterday. "Right now, the money is being processed by our firm, so I consider it paid," said attorney Carlos Ramirez, who represents NiShea Dukes. "They made the deadline." The deadline -- and the court's ruling that Dukes must pay the debt -- came after NiShea Dukes's attorneys filed a motion for civil contempt, a means to claim ..."

Outfielder Dukes May Face Jail Time For His Legal Fees

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May 30

Washington Post

"Washington Nationals outfielder Elijah Dukes will spend the next several days with Class AA Harrisburg, trying to rehabilitate his left hamstring injury. In the meantime, he must deal with another problem. Hillsborough (Fla.) Circuit Court Judge Mark Wolfe on Friday ordered that Dukes, 24, must pay $39,767 in outstanding legal fees for his estranged wife's attorneys. If he doesn't make the payment by June 5 at 5 p.m., he could face 90 days in jail. Dukes did not attend today's hearing, which came after attorneys for NiShea Dukes filed a motion for civil contempt, a means to claim unpaid fees. Dukes, with a history of legal trouble, faced a similarly sized debt -- and a similar threat for ..."