Dodgers Under Microscope Again

In another allegation of violating major league baseball rules, the Dodgers are being investigated again for recruiting and signing a foreign player before his 16th birthday, The Times has learned.

The commissioner’s office launched its third investigation in a year into the Dodgers’ signing practices after being informed in late May that the club allegedly acted improperly in acquiring Venezuelan pitcher Felix Arellan in 1996. Officials from the commissioner’s office recently informed the Dodgers they are reviewing documents pertaining to Arellan’s signing, and plan to conduct interviews soon regarding the team’s conduct in the matter.

At issue is whether the Dodgers falsified documents in signing Arellan, now 19, before he had reached baseball’s minimum signing age. The commissioner’s office ruled against the Dodgers in two previous signing investigations involving Cuban minor leaguers and third baseman Adrian Beltre, a native of the Dominican Republic.

Cuban players Juan Carlos Diaz and Josue Perez were granted free agency last June--and the Dodgers were fined $200,000 by the commissioner’s office and prohibited from re-signing them--after the players accused the team of holding secret tryouts in Cuba and arranging their defections. Commissioner Bud Selig also punished the club for the early signing of Beltre, who was 15 when he joined the organization, but did not grant him free agency.

“Our office is aware of the matter and we’re looking into it,” major league baseball spokesman Pat Courtney said. “It’s tough to say a time frame in something like this, but it’s probably going to be at least a few weeks.”

The Dodgers said they are cooperating with the investigation, and are in the early stages of conducting their own inquiry.

Sam Fernandez, team counsel, is coordinating the Dodgers’ efforts. Fernandez also acted as the club’s point man during the other investigations, prompted by events that occurred under the former management regime.

“We have been made aware of the allegations,” said Derrick Hall, Dodger senior vice president. “They [the commissioner’s office] have begun their investigation, as have we with one of our own.”

The latest allegations were raised by agent Gus Dominguez, who represents Arellan, a hard-throwing left-hander.

Contacted at his office, Dominguez said he forwarded documentation to the commissioner’s office proving that Arellan, who is pitching this season for the Dodgers’ rookie-league team at Great Falls, Mont., was 15 when the club pursued and signed him.

“The whole thing basically started [this] spring training when Felix told me he had a suspicion that he had been signed illegally,” said Dominguez, who also represents Diaz and Perez.

“I told him that I had to have some proof and some paperwork that could show me a little bit more about what happened, and he sent me all the proof of what he was talking about. By what [the Dodgers] did to sign him, they broke some baseball rules. We sent the information to the commissioner’s office, and we’re letting them handle everything.”

Citing the ongoing investigation, Dominguez declined to provide details about the allegations. However, two sources who have reviewed the documentation said the club allegedly signed Arellan much earlier than July 2, 1997--the date listed in the Dodger media guide.

Arellan, whose fastball has been clocked at 94 mph, was actually signed March 2, 1996. His birth date on several documents is listed as Feb. 23, 1981, making him 15 at the time of his signing.

Moreover, Arellan and his father have accused the Dodgers of misleading them in at least one document on file with the commissioner’s office.

Felix Arellan Sr. claims that Dodger officials instructed him not to write the date on the contract when he signed in March 1996. The young pitcher said he was told his father dated the contract July 2, 1997, and that he should do the same.

Arellan noticed the date was not in his father’s handwriting, but still signed the contract as instructed. Arellan’s father claims the Dodgers later filled in the date next to his signature.

In addition, there are questions about the signing bonus Arellan received. He claims to have received an initial $30,000 bonus from the team--through a third party--when he was 15, and an additional $87,714 after his 16th birthday.

A scout from another organization said Arellan is an emerging prospect. In his first season as a professional, Arellan was 0-1 with a 4.20 earned-run average in 13 appearances for his team in the Dominican Republic.

Like many inexperienced power pitchers, Arellan struggled with his command. He struck out 44 and walked 48 in 40 2/3 innings.

Arellan was 1-2 with an 8.42 ERA in 15 games--including three starts--for Great Falls last season. He struck out 38 and walked 32 in 31 innings. Great Falls began its 2000 season Friday.

“This whole thing is very frustrating, but at the same time, I don’t think the Dodgers are the only ones who do this,” said Dominguez, who believes that Arellan would command a singing bonus of as much as $3 million if he is granted free agency.

“I’ve got to believe other teams do this, they’re just not found out. But I think the Dodgers are a little more arrogant when they do these kind of things. They’re the Dodgers, and they feel they can get away with it.”

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The Players

* FELIX ARELLAN--6-2, 145, left-handed pitcher from La Guaira, Venezuela, signed as a free agent on July 2, 1997. Arellan, who is pitching this season for the Dodgers’ rookie-league team at Great Falls, Mont., has a 6.03 ERA after two minor league seasons.

Previously

* Juan Carlos Diaz and Josue Perez were granted free agency last June and the Dodgers were fined $200,000 after the players accused the team of holding secret tryouts in Cuba and arranging their defections; In December, the team was fined $50,000 for violating major league rules by signing Adrian Beltre at age 15.

*

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