Report: A's pitching prospect has bookie ties; GM says 'it's not an issue'

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.

Victor Mateo and Domingo Toribio also were terminated after a two-month investigation by Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations, the team said.