Conspiracy!


Federal authorities and Major League Baseball are investigating Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and special assistant Jose Rijo for their possible roles in a growing financial scandal involving the signing of players from the Dominican Republic, several sources familiar with the probe told ESPN.

GM Jim Bowden says he and other Nationals officials have spoken to MLB's investigators and the FBI.

Anyone implicated could face felony fraud charges, sources familiar with the investigation said.

Numerous MLB employees in the United States and the Dominican Republic are under suspicion in the probe, which allegedly involves the skimming of signing money allocated for Dominican prospects. Bowden, a 23-year veteran of MLB front offices and a general manager on and off since 1992, is the highest-ranking official known to be under investigation.

ESPN - Sources: Bowden, Rijo investigated in pair of probes of Dominican signings - MLB