Dominican court orders Nationals to pay $40K

Oct 29, 2009 - 1:03 AM SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic(AP) -- A Dominican Republic tribunal has ordered the Washington Nationals to pay $40,000 in damages to a scout who was fired after signing a prospect who lied about his age.

Jose Baez, the Nationals' former director of operations in the Dominican Republic, sued the team for what he said was an unjustified firing. The court issued its order last week.

In 2006, Baez and special assistant to the general manager Jose Rijo signed a player who identified himself as 16-year-old Esmailyn Gonzalez. The Nationals gave the player a $1.4 million signing bonus.

A Major League Baseball investigation determined Gonzalez was about 4 years older than he said and also lied about his name.

Fernando Ravelo, who works for the Nationals in the Dominican Republic, said Wednesday he was not aware of the court's decision and declined comment.

Nationals spokesman John Dever wrote in an e-mail the team would not comment.