Yankees Probed In MLB Investigation Of Dominican Prospects

MLB investigators are looking into accusations that several Yankees prospects from the Dominican Republic "were forced to kick back portions of their signing bonuses to one or more team employees," according to sources cited by Quinn & Fainaru-Wada of ESPN.com. The revelation is "one of several developments in an ongoing investigation of a financial scandal involving the signing of players from the Dominican Republic." Sources also indicated that the investigation is "expected to implicate roughly 20 people on 'a handful' of teams before it is complete." Investigators have "expanded their probe into Venezuela, where many [MLB] clubs have player academies." One source familiar with the investigation said, "Things are coming to a head." Four MLB investigators last week returned to the U.S. after visiting the Dominican and are "preparing a report for the commissioner's office." Another source briefed on the findings of MLB investigators said that he "believed 'less than a half dozen' teams would be implicated, including the Yankees, Red Sox, Nationals and White Sox." While MLB clubs in recent months have "fired several officials already implicated in the scandal, MLB has worked closely with the FBI, which is conducting its own investigation into the alleged skimming of bonuses" (ESPN.com, 8/4). A source said that "several Yankees employees who scouted in the Dominican Republic have been placed on leave by the organization pending" the MLB investigation (N.Y. TIMES, 8/5). Nationals GM Jim Bowden previously said that he had "cooperated with investigators and is not guilty of any wrongdoing." It is unknown whether other GMs of the teams involved, including Red Sox GM Theo Epstein, Yankees GM Brian Cashman or White Sox GM Ken Williams, "have been interviewed in the matter" (BOSTON GLOBE, 8/5).