Jose Rijo, theWashingtonNationals executive at the center of a scandal involving a top prospect who created a false identity, has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the club. 

Jim Bowden walked through the Space Coast Stadium complex Saturday for the first time since news broke that the Nationals got scammed out of $1. 

There was never any question Ryan Zimmerman was going to be on theWashingtonNationals' roster this season. 

TheWashingtonNationals on Thursday night were about 12 hours away from walking into a hearing in Arizona and telling Ryan Zimmerman - the face of the franchise - that he has one ugly face. 

Left-hander Odalis Perez was a no-show at the Washington Nationals' training camp Sunday, the last day for players to report without facing the possibility of disciplinary action. 

Washington Nationals special assistant Jose Rijo is taking a leave of absence after a Major League Baseball investigation revealed a prospect he discovered was older than originally believed. 

Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman is optimistic about reaching a long-term deal with the Washington Nationals before opening day. 

After a slow offseason, the Nationals made a big splash just before spring training, signing 1B/OF Adam Dunn. 

After a slow offseason, the Nationals made a big splash just before spring training, signing 1B/OF Adam Dunn. 

--SS Carlos Alvarez is still planning to report to Nationals camp in Viera, Fla. 

The Nationals' signing of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a $3,325,000 contract for the 2009 season helped the team avoid an arbitration hearing with its franchise player by mere hours. 

--SS Carlos Alvarez is still planning to report to Nationals camp in Viera, Fla. 

The Nationals' signing of third baseman Ryan Zimmerman to a $3,325,000 contract for the 2009 season helped the team avoid an arbitration hearing with its franchise player by mere hours. 

The furor over the player formerly known as "Smiley" atWashingtonNationals spring training took the spotlight off what should have been the story of the day Wednesday - the first time their $20 million man appeared on the field. 

The revelation that a topWashingtonNationals prospect from the Dominican Republic falsified his identity and age has underscored the challenges teams face in Latin America.