The Nationals were duped.
The $1.4 million bonus baby from the Dominican is actually four years older and someone else, according to SI.com. Esmailyn Gonzalez (or Carlos David Alvarez Lugo) has plummeted from decent prospect to borderline player. That is, if his visa isn’t revoked.
The Nats are red-faced over yet another blunder, but they’ll get over it. Wasting $1.4 million on a prospect is nothing. They blew $5 million on catcher Paul Lo Duca last season before trading him in July. They lost another $5 million on Dmitri Young last year without return.
Bad investments are commonplace in sports. But, this one deserves someone’s job. Dominican birth certificates have been forged before just like the Chinese cheated with the Olympic gymnasts last year. It has happened so often baseball should just figure the guy’s a couple years older than claimed. That’s OK for smaller prospects.
But this was the one the Nats made a big deal over in 2006. Gonzalez (Lugo) was supposed to be a franchise shortstop, part of that coming wave of talent the team keeps promising fans while losing regularly. It was supposed to be “symbolic” of the team’s ability to find prospects.
Symbolic? You mean like Wall Street bonuses?
This deal smelled from the start. Texas was reportedly the second highest bidder at $700,000. The wide pay gap invited scrutiny from the FBI and Major League Baseball investigating allegations of bonus money being skimmed to Latin players. Of course, we never heard anything more about that.
What should the Nats do about this mess? First, fire the scouts involved. Second, don’t cut Gonzalez (Lugo). The Nats are already into him for real money and Gonzalez (Lugo) will just join another team if Washington releases him. Instead, move Gonzalez (Lugo) to Double-A ball and see if he’s really a prospect at age 23. He lit up the Gulf Coast League last year, but that’s rookie ball. Give him two years to prove himself.
However, Gonzalez (Lugo) may never re-enter the country again. After all, why is the government spending billions of dollars protecting borders if someone who admits forging his name for a previous work visa is simply allowed to change it and return?
Finally, the Nats should just consider this a lesson learned next time there’s a foreign player worth signing. Work harder to confirm his age and identity.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com or e-mail [email protected].
