Elijah Dukes’s release appears to be a money saving move:
Wednesday was the last day the Nationals could put him on waivers and pay him 30 days’ termination pay at the minor league rate of his split contract instead of 45 days at the major league rate. So he is owed a little under $41,000, instead of about $109,000, which he would have been due had he been released later in spring training.
Manager Jim Riggleman, general manager Mike Rizzo and team president Stan Kasten all emphasized that the move was based on Dukes’ performance and was not connected to any off-the-field issues. Rizzo, though, did say he thinks Dukes’ departure improves the team’s makeup.
“Elijah was great,” Riggleman said. “He’s done his work. He’s got no issues. It’s just a baseball decision.”
The team says the release was performance based, and Dukes was off to a poor start. That’s an awful small sample size, however.
Posted by David Pinto at 8:40 pm | Transactions | Permalink | 3 Comments
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March 18th, 2010 @ 5:36 pm
do you really believe that it was only a baseball decision? if you do, then you are the only one who does.
March 18th, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
@harry mamis: If it isn’t, it will leak out soon enough.
March 18th, 2010 @ 9:49 pm
Count me as one who doesn’t think Dukes was a problem with the Nats.
The Lerners are cheap. They dropped Dukes for one reason only — money.
Bob Fenili