Jose Rijo, the former Reds postseason hero and Nationals executive who lost his job as a result of the 2009 Esmailyn Gonzalez scandal, is slated to be arrested in his native Dominican Republic sometime in the next two weeks for being in contempt of court.German Miranda, the head of the Dominican's Justice Ministry Anti-Laundering Unit, announced today that Rijo will be arrested before Christmas Eve for his failure twice to appear in court for questioning about his business dealings with a fugitive wanted on charges of murder and narcotics trafficking.
Matias Avelino Castro is wanted on charges of murdering journalist Jose Silvestre and narcotics trafficking. Miranda told a Dominican television network he has evidence linking Castro's seized businesses in the Dominican (valued at $2.6 million in the United States) with Rijo. He said Rijo, 46, could be charged with aiding and abetting a fugitive and with forming part of Castro's businesses.
Rijo didn't show up for questioning November 3, claiming stomach problems, and again failed to appear December 6.
The MVP of the 1990 World Series after pitching the Reds to a four-game sweep of the heavily favored Athletics, Rijo spent four years working for the Nationals as a special assistant to former general manager Jim Bowden.
Rijo also operated a training academy in the Dominican, where he discovered a teenage shortstop who claimed to be named Esmailyn Gonzalez. The Nationals wound up signing the player for $1.4 million in 2006, only to find out in 2009 he had lied about his age and identity. Gonzalez was actually named Carlos Alvarez and was four years older than he claimed.
The Nationals fired Rijo, along with other club employees in the Dominican, on Feb. 26, 2009. Three days later, Bowden resigned as GM. To this point, no formal charges have been filed against either Rijo or Bowden.
Alvarez, now 26, continues to play in the Nationals' farm system and this season hit a combined .321 in 46 games at the rookie Gulf Coast League and short-season Class A Auburn against competition several years younger than him.
29 comments:
wow
Posting anonymous on this just cause I don't want to be dropping names or making myself seem important.
I spent many a day with Jose Rijo. In DC and also in the DR. I love the guy, no hesitation. I've seen him be kind and generous to strangers a lot of times. I don't know anything about this case. But I do know he's just a real good guy. Did he get caught up in stuff he shouldn't have? Maybe, I don't know. And things are very different in the DR and with their legal system than what we are used to in the USA. Again, I know nothing, but it sounds like they are just trying to squeeze Rijo for info on the guy they really want.
Wishing Jose nothing but the best.
NATS are well rid of him. I wonder if he has the capacity to throw Bowden under the bus.
Those Castro boys are always trying to wreak havoc.
If it isn't in Cuba, it's in the DR. Aside from changing birthdays, I'll betcha they even change the dates of their countries' histories!
Isn't there a guy on the fish that has been playing under a different name? The Bowden era - wow, what can you say?
Sound similar to Livo's issue. Can you say foreshadowing...
I'd still like to know the extent of Bowden's involvement in the DR money laundering scandal. A quiet resignation does not satisfy an inquiring mind. Selig said he was gong to thourghly inestigate this mess but all he did was cover it up. Meanwhile, Bowden is living a life of luxury in Beverly Hills.
Marlins closer, Leo Nunez, was caught last year. That's kinda why they signed Heath Bell.
Real name is Juan Carlos Oviedo and he is one year older than MLB believed (I guess he is one year older than the real Leo Nunez).
Pittsburgh signed him in 2000, he played 6 seasons in MLB, and not sure what happened that he got caught.
Facing questioning about murder and narcotics trafficking would be enough to give anyone "stomach problems". Especially if you're expected to "rat out" a murdering narcotics trafficker.
waiting for news about Oswalt, or a trade for a CFer... this offseason is getting more boring by the day!
This is a non-story in terms of having anthing to do with the Nats or even baseball. Rijo is refusing to testify in some investigation involving DR mobsters. Nothing to do with Smiley or Bowden or the Nats. Nothing to see here folks, just move along.
Yeah, it is getting boring David!
Time for Mark to make up some rumors; any rumors will do, e.g. Flores for the whole Mets pitching staff!
Time for Rizzo to give us something to talk about.
dfh21
David, the good news is the Nats didn't have many moves to make. Probably 3 to 5 moves.
Discouraging news is Rizzo described the pitcher he wanted aka Mark Buehrle and didn't get him. This is 2 years in a row that the Winter Meetings didn't yield the main objective Rizzo set.
The other target still in play is the leadoff CF. Probably won't be a leadoff CF unless they get Coco Crisp which probably wont happen so it will be settling for someone else---maybe that's a RF or a CF that bats 2nd or 6th.
Still hoping for a Cuddyer and Oswalt for the Nats as both will fit in their roles very nicely if you know their limitations.
Not sure it's possible but I would try to trade Laroche to Brewers. I think they owe us a bit for Morgan. It would clear the way for Fielder.
If not, I would try real hard for Darvish. The Japanese market would be great for Nats. I hope Lerners see that potential.
As the shortest days of the year get me down, I'm looking for talk of baseball on the field. I'm looking at that spring schedule, mapping out the best week, best towns to stay in. I read the masthead. I see the days ticking down. Play ball.
For some on this list, their grip on sanity will fail long before Spring Training begins. You can see some people's fingers beginning to slip from the safety strap already, and it's not even January. (E.g., trading LaRoche to Brewers so Nats can sign Fielder, because "they owe us one.)
... will JimBo be far behind??? We can only hope.
Go Nats!
@Theo.... LMAO!!!!
Folks: The non-tendered list hits the wires in the morning. The posting period for Darvish closes Wednesday, and the posting period for the CF Noki Aoki closes Thursday. There will be plenty to talk about this week.
We're just in that brief lull that comes after the Winter Meetings, where Rijo's pending arrest serves as both filler, and a reminder of what has past.
It's very slim pickings for on-the-field baseball at this time of year. However, there is this: at 1 PM Eastern Time on December 21, MLB Network will air the inaugural Australian Baseball League All-Star Game. Hey, it's baseball.
Anon @ 315pm. Get lost Troll! We don't talk to pathet-anons on this board!
@Theo
I don't actually think that teams trade because they owe something. I'm sorry you were confused. Just would like to see Fielder in a Nats uniform.
It really does seem to be the time of year for some fans to get their hate on. Not just here, but on other blogs, twitter feeds, etc... I guess it's frustration. Perhaps some delusional types think they are applying pressure by talking trash. Personally I think its wasted angst. I too hope for some exciting baseball news about the Nationals, but I still have faith. Rizzo seems to be a pretty smart cookie.
Kilgore tweets that the Nats will not be offering Slaten a contract.
Joe Saunders may be non-tendered by Arizona.
Luke Scott being nonf tendered by O's. Looks like a hairy chested guy for Davey. Schumaker looks like he is re-upping with STL.
Mark tweets that all tendered (yes, Gorzelanny) except Slaten who was non-tendered.
Wally, I agree on Luke Scott.
Mark Z said everyone tendered a contract except Slaten. I guess that means Gorzo is back for now!
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