The Nationals are pursuing a trade for troubled Devil Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes, major-league sources tell FOXSports.com.

No deal is imminent, and other clubs remain interested in Dukes, one source says.

The Nationals, however, represent a logical fit.

Dukes, 22, could replace the Nats' center-field platoon of Nook Logan and Ryan Langerhans.

And Jim Bowden, the team's general manager, has a history of extending opportunities to players with checkered pasts.

Nationals first baseman Dmitri Young, released by the Tigers last September following legal and substance-abuse problems, currently is batting .342, second in the National League.

Dukes would be a greater risk.

His talent is staggering — he leads all major-league rookies with 10 homers and 31 walks despite batting .196. However, he has a lengthy history of arrests, suspensions and ugly episodes.

His wife, NiShea Gilbert, accused him last month of leaving her a voicemail on which he threatened to kill her and her children, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

Gilbert, 26, has since filed for divorce, and Dukes has agreed to a restraining order that prohibits him from contacting her for a year.

Dukes, who was not charged with a crime after his alleged conduct toward Gilbert, apologized to his family, teammates, fans and Devil Rays management for creating a distraction.

The Rays, after declining to penalize Dukes, increased their efforts to trade him, apparently believing that he needs to leave the Tampa-St. Petersburg area.

Dukes, who attended Hillsborough H.S. in Tampa, has been arrested at least five times since 2003, according to court and law enforcement documents obtained by the St. Petersburg Times.

He was suspended twice by the Rays last season for behavioral problems at Class AAA Durham. His first suspension was for 15 games. His second was for 30.
I don't see him doing any better in a Nats lineup than a DRays. Seems like a big risk for a guy who has cooled off big time of late.