Bowden's job in serious jeopardy

By Jon Heyman, SI.com

Nationals general manager Jim Bowden says he's innocent of any wrongdoing. AP Related Links SEGURA: Feds expand investigation of Bowden

Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden's job is in jeopardy, according to people familiar with the situation.

The Nationals are said to be seriously considering firing Bowden in the wake of the Esmailyn Gonzalez debacle. SI.com reported last week that the Nationals prospect who received a $1.4 million signing bonus is not actually a 19-year-old named Esmailyn Gonzalez but rather a 23-year-old named Carlos Alvarez Daniel Lugo, a major embarrassment to the Nationals organization.

According to the SI.com report, Bowden pressed his bosses to sign Gonzalez, whose next best offer was $700,000 from the Texas Rangers. Nationals executive Jose Rijo, the former pitcher and a longtime associate of Bowden's, has taken a leave of absence in connection to the case. Rijo reportedly recommended the Gonzalez/Lugo signing.

Rijo and Bowden are being looked at by MLB investigators in the scout skimming scandal. But whether or not Bowden is implicated in that scandal, the Gonzalez/Lugo signing is a fiasco for Washington, which has been mired with troubles under Bowden's leadership.

It isn't known who might take over should Bowden be let go. Baseball Prospectus also reported that Bowden could be at risk.

Nationals president Stan Kasten could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.