Whatever the reason — and the Nationals claim it strictly was baseball-related — outfielder Elijah Dukes has been released and the team is in the market for a starting right fielder. Any ideas? It is March 18, after all. Here are the internal candidates if general manager Mike Rizzo doesn’t find an external solution.
Willie Harris » The veteran. Made noise early in camp about not getting an opportunity to win a starting position. Here’s his chance. Having a fine spring at 7-for-21 entering Wednesday with a double and two triples. Harris, 31, has never batted more than 409 times in a season. He posted a career-best .364 on-base average in 2009. But you know the ceiling here.
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Justin Maxwell » The aging prospect. Maxwell, 26, is a fine defensive outfielder. He was awful at the plate in a call-up last May but showed progress in September. Does he have the plate discipline to become an everyday player? He’s fighting a losing battle right now with three hits in 26 at-bats, including 12 strikeouts.
Mike Morse » The journeyman. He’s hitting his way onto the team. The Nats already planned to use the soon-to-be 28-year-old as a backup at the corners. Now they can get him even more time. He has shown power — both last September and this spring with two homers and a double. But can he handle an everyday role? Morse hasn’t had more than 52 big-league at-bats in a season since 2005.
Ian Desmond » The future. So much depends on the health of shortstop Cristian Guzman. If he’s really good to go, then the right-field opening gives more weight to the idea of Desmond, 24, as a super utility player. Of course, if he hits like he has this spring — 12-for-30, three doubles, a triple, a homer, three walks and just five strikeouts — make him the starter outright. Still, he has to prove himself for more than 21 games in the majors.
