The Dominican Republic Is Not To Be Trusted

UPDATE: Apparently, the Dominican official who brokered the deal between Gonzalez and the Nationals's assistant GM, Jose Rijo, were childhood friends. Rijo and Nationals GM Jim Bowden were investigated last season in connection with an alledged bonus skimming scandal among Dominican players. While no one has been implicated with federal fraud charges yet, this scandal may reopen questioning.

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The Dominican Republic is to lying about names and ages to baseball teams what Texas and Oakland is to steroids use among power hitters.

First, there was Miguel Tejada, aka Miguel Tejada, who claimed he was two years younger than he really was when he signed with the A's in 1995 (although he plays like he's at least a decade older at this point in his career).

Then there was Santiago Casilla, aka Jairo Garcia, who falsified documents to pretend to be THREE years younger than he really was.

Now there is Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo, aka Esmailyn Gonzalez, who claims he is 19, but is actually 23!

If I was a baseball, I'd start investigating my players a little closer...

Also, Miguel Tejada is a huge lying douche (age, name, steroids).