OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics' 16-year-old pitching prospect Michael Inoa of the Dominican Republic has ties to a sports bookie in his native country, according to a report.
SI.com reported Tuesday that former catcher Edgar Mercedes opened a baseball academy for top Dominican players financed from his work as a sports bookie, marketing those prospects to major league clubs and even helping negotiate Inoa's contract with agent Adam Katz.
Earlier this month, Inoa agreed to a minor league contract with a $4.25 million signing bonus -- an A's record for the signing of an amateur player.
"It's not an Oakland A's issue. If it's an issue for MLB, they will look into it," Oakland assistant general manager David Forst said. "But, there is no issue for the A's or for Michael."
Many major league teams are working to improve their operations in the Dominican Republic and elsewhere in Latin America. In May, the Chicago White Sox fired director of player personnel David Wilder along with two other scouts in the club's Latin American operation. Full story
Padres call up Ledezma
CINCINNATI -- The San Diego Padres purchased the contract of left-hander Wil Ledezma from Triple-A Portland, replacing traded pitcher Randy Wolf on the roster.
Ledezma was 0-2 with a 5.04 ERA in six starts and eight relief appearances before he was designated for assignment on June 10. He went 1-0 with one save and a 4.41 ERA in 11 relief appearances for Portland.
The Padres traded Wolf, a left-handed starter, to the Houston Astros for a minor leaguer on Tuesday.
Following a 9-5 loss to Cincinnati, the Padres optioned left-hander Joe Thatcher to Portland. Thatcher gave up five hits and retired only two batters in the seventh inning, which included Adam Dunn's grand slam. Thatcher had an 8.42 ERA in four stints with the Padres this season.
Giants recall backup catcher Holm
SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants recalled catcher Steve Holm from Triple-A Fresno on to be Bengie Molina's backup.
Current backup Eliezer Alfonzo was told after Tuesday night's game with Washington that he would be optioned back to Fresno. He was batting .091 with one RBI in five games for the Giants since they called him up July 1, nine days after he completed a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing substance.
Alfonzo insisted at the time he never knowingly took steroids but did take medicine in December while home in Venezuela for bronchitis.
Holm, set to start Thursday for the Giants to give Molina a day off, traveled from Round Rock, Texas, where the Grizzlies opened a series Tuesday.
No Beijing for Cards' prospect
ST. LOUIS -- Outfielder Colby Rasmus, one of the St. Louis Cardinals' top prospects, will not play with Team USA in next month's Olympic Games because of a sprained left knee.
The Cardinals said Wednesday that Rasmus, who plays at Triple-A Memphis, likely would be sidelined a month. An MRI exam revealed a minor sprain.
Rasmus, 21, was the Cardinals' minor league player of the year his first two professional seasons. He batted in the first inning of Tuesday night's game and then was taken out.
Rasmus, the Cardinals' No. 1 draft pick in 2005, is hitting .249 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI and 15 stolen bases after a slow start. He was batting .214 after the first two months.
Cards revise Ballpark Village plan
ST. LOUIS -- With next year's All-Star Game fast approaching, the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday announced a revised plan for Ballpark Village, a complex that will eventually replace the muddy eyesore left when the old Busch Stadium was torn down.
The project is expected to cost up to $600 million. Phase 1 will include a mix of office, entertainment and retail space on the eight-acre site. Phase 2 would add more, plus up to 250 residential units.
The project was announced years ago but has hit several snags, most notably earlier this year when Centene Corp. dropped plans to relocate the Ballpark Village from suburban St. Louis, a move t hat would have brought 1,200 jobs to the city. The sluggish housing economy has also stalled the residential aspect of the project.
Still, Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III said he is thrilled with the current plan.
