Ugueth Urbina is involved somehow.

Supplying steroids to minors, perhaps?

Supplying steroids to minors, perhaps?

It sounds like that this is about something that took place down in the Dominican Republic, though. That wouldn't be the feds' concern, would it?

Drug trafficking of legal drugs is becoming a major deal with the feds, NTN.

We get briefed on stuff like smuggling of stolen drugs and vaccines and counterfeit drugs that are nearly indistinguishable from the real thing and are finding their way into the supply chain.

"Black Sox."

Justin rendered speechless by this.

There is really only one criminal offense committed in a foreign country against foreign citizens that the fed's would look to prosecute: underage sexual tourism.

A couple years ago there was a case of a Giants scout who extorted sexual favors in return for professional contracts. A similar scenario would seem to fit the few facts that have been reported.

In that case, I'll reinstate my comment from #6, that I deemed inappropriate even if it seemed possible to likely.

These guys liked boys.

in the book stealing lives, it was mentioned that chicago cub scouts would steal signing bonus money off the top from amateur free agents. this sounds a little more serious than that, but then again, embezzling isn't exactly small potatoes.

Possible, Justin.

Chicago Tribune: (RR)

An international scout for another major-league team said two weeks ago that the Commissioner's office was interviewing the parents of several Latin players about the bonuses they received from MLB teams. Sox general manager Ken Williams, however, declined to comment on whether financial improprieties were part of the Sox's investigation involving Wilder and the two scouts.

But Williams admitted he was hurt over the firing of Wilder because of his longtime friendship and trust.

"On a professional level and personal level, this hurts," Williams said after a long pause. "But you will never see me, even though there were obviously some things that have drawn us to this day, you're not going to hear me say a disparaging word about any of the people who are involved in this, simply because we're going to maintain a level of professionalism."

The Sox had requested MLB's independent investigation of their Latin American scouting operations after internal questions were raised.
...
Once allegations surfaced about potential wrongdoing, Wilder was re-assigned to scout amateur players for next month's draft.

If they were stealing money or something of that ilk maybe the federal government is involved because of the multi-country aspect? That's all I can think of though I'm no lawyer anyway.

I'm tired of these terrorists like Albert Belle and some guys I've never heard of trying to destroy my country.

"But you will never see me, even though there were obviously some things that have drawn us to this day, you're not going to hear me say a disparaging word about any of the people who are involved in this, simply because we're going to maintain a level of professionalism."

This must be a new policy.

They should ask Ozzie what he thinks!

I wish the Chicago White Sox would be more blatant with the press release, for entertainment value. Seeing this would be awesome:

The Chicago White Sox organization stands behind the principle that strangling Panamian prostitutes after doing lines of blow off of their breasts is not consistent with the values of the Chicago White Sox Baseball Club or any of its subsidiaries. We seek to educate our employees, from all parts of the managerial team to temporary workers, that drug-fueled sex orgies that result in dead hookers is not acceptable under any circumstances.

The Chicago White Sox organization stands behind the principle that strangling Panamian prostitutes after doing lines of blow off of their breasts is not consistent with the values of the Chicago White Sox or any of their subsidiaries.

Added Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, "We're not the Cubs, you know."

I bet they were caught reading "Moneyball".

I bet they were caught reading "Moneyball".

you mean "Dinero Pelota"

If it is theft of bonus money, maybe the Feds are going to try and get them for tax evasion?

Or maybe they were paying money to non-existent players, and then "cutting" them a few weeks later.

I bet they were caught reading "Moneyball".

If only the White Sox could incorporate the tenets of Moneyball into their organization. Then they might be able to fleece some GM by getting an elite major league hitter for an A ball player.

Oh wait.

The rumor mill has it that these three were being investigated for skimming signing bonuses.

"But you will never see me, even though there were obviously some things that have drawn us to this day, you're not going to hear me say a disparaging word about any of the people who are involved in this, simply because we're going to maintain a level of professionalism."


This must be a new policy.

Beat me to it. This quote is fun coming from KW.

The rumor mill has it that these three were being investigated for skimming signing bonuses.

Yep. The investigation is limited to the White Sox, according to the various reports, but I would be hugely surprised if it were just the White Sox who were doing it.

This might give a push to the idea of a "world draft", which has been kicked around on a number of occasions and resisted pretty strongly by the big-money clubs.

-- MWE

I will withhold judgment until I hear Jack Keefe's take.