Dominican court rules in favor of former Yanks’ exec

Via Jorge Arangure, a Dominican court awarded former Yankees’ Latin American scouting director Carlos Rios nearly $700,000 in damages after the team fired him in 2008 for his role in a bonus skimming scandal. Rios, who signed Jesus Montero and countless others, was accused of pocketing more than $130,000 in bonus kick backs from various players. “I understand [the Yankees] were pressured into this decision by major league baseball,” said Rios. “They handled it how they thought was correct. But the Dominican court didn’t agree. I’m no criminal.”

The court awarded Rios the remainder of his contract, which ran through 2012. “There’s no bitterness,” he added. “I know it’s been a difficult case and it hasn’t been easy for me. Hopefully I’ll get to close this chapter and the Yankees can continue to sign players in Latin American and continue to be a quality organization and I can continue my career in baseball.”

Despite the negative press stemming from Rios’ dismissal , the Yanks remain a major presence on the Latin American prospect scene, and you need not look any further than Gary Sanchez’s deal for proof.