Washington Nationals Look to Turn Other Teams' Trash Into Their Own Treasure

Over the past two seasons, Dukes' status as a top prospect has suffered while his well-publicized criminal rap sheet has grown. Once considered an all-around athlete with the potential to produce 15-20 HR, 30+ 2B, and 15+ SB per year, the doubts that surround Elijah's composure left the Devil Rays feeling frustrated. The fact that the organization has one of the deepest minor league systems in the league, gave the Rays the luxury of moving Dukes.

In return, the Nationals parted ways with 20-year old prospect, Glenn Gibson.

Gibson started 15 games over the past two seasons for Vermont of the NY-Penn League. He is known to have a low 90s fastball, plus curve, and relentless work ethic, which he enlisted to impress in nearly every statistical category during those 15 starts. Gibson is still far from seeing Major-league action, but could continue to raise his projected ceiling this upcoming year.

Don't be surprised to see him start in A-ball with a mid-season promotion to AA.

Meanwhile, Dukes will compete with Wily Mo Peña to start in left field for the Nationals this spring.

Peña had an above average showing in 2007 with limited plate appearances, but is prone to inconsistency and is generally a dodgy fielder. Some have tipped Dukes to get the starting nod although his spring training performance is likely to go a long way in deciding whether or not that actually happens. Like Milledge, Duke's could be a case where a change of scenery makes all the difference.

TRADE #3—December 4, 2007

• Nationals receive Tyler Clippard from Yankees for Jonathan Albaladejo

Twenty-four hours after acquiring Elijah Dukes, Washington pulled the trigger on their third trade in just five days. In return for Jonathan Albaladejo, a reliever who was lights out for the Nationals in 14 appearances at the end of last season, they received Tyler Clippard, a now 23-year-old soft-throwing right-hander.

Clippard made his big league debut for the Yankees in 2007, but failed to impress New York's unforgiving management due to his inability to translate four average pitches into practical success. Going into last season, Clippard had strung together four consecutive minor league seasons where he posted strong K-to-BB ratios, low WHIPs, and solid ERAs. However, Tyler couldn't seem to find his groove in 2007, going through AA, AAA and finally the Majors without putting his stamp on the mound.

At 6'4" and 170 pounds, Clippard is still young enough and still has plenty of room to fill out his frame, which could add velocity to his fastball that hovers around 91 mph. Scouting reports complement his change-up but remain lukewarm about his third and fourth pitches—a two-seam fastball and a curveball.

At this point in baseball's history, logic dictates that any pitcher will find more success going against National League lineups than those of the American League—especially those of the AL East. This should give the Nationals hope enough, and they will probably assign Clippard to AAA to get his confidence back and provide a reliable call-up for what has been an oft-injured rotation.

Best-case scenario—Clippard reserves a spot in Washington's 2009 rotation.

Worst-case scenario—He becomes the next Mark Hendrickson.

While Washington's bullpen loses depth minus the bulky Albaladejo, any time a team can get a former top prospect (just one year removed for this status) for a reliever, you can't blame them for jumping at the chance. 

Without surrendering much talent, the Nationals gave themselves a shot to revive three former top prospects. While losing an arm like Glenn Gibson's may prove costly in the long run, one has to believe that overall the Nats received much more than they dealt away.

While the national media drooled this past winter over the Johan Santana and Miguel Cabrera trades (and rightly so), which seemed to blind everything in the periphery, the Nationals deserve credit for taking a chance and thinking creatively.

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