I know it's late and this post isn't going to be very long, but it's really just a point for discussion among the faithful anyway. According to Nats Journal, Jose Rijo will be been relieved of his duties as Special Assistant to the General Manager, though reading through the story, it appears Rijo had not been told at the time Chico spoke to him.
Jorge Arangure, Jr. from ESPN.com had the story too.
Additionally, both stories have the Nats shutting down the team's academy in Rijo's facility in the Dominican Republic as well, officially leaving the Nationals with no presence in the D.R. Assistant G.M. Mike Rizzo was in the D.R. trying to secure access to a training facility, probably to share with other organizations. According to the ESPN.com story, Rizzo also met with Fernando Ravelo, G.M. of the Dominican Winter League's Tigres de Licey, better known as the "Washington Nationals South", about replacing Rijo as the team's director of Dominican operations.
Interstingly enough, the Detroit TIgers also utilize Rijo's facility, and they seem to be perfectly happing continuing the relationship, again according to ESPN.com's story.
All of these developments come as good news, the first signs of stepping forward out of the abyss that this mess has become.
Rijo's the first head to roll in this incident. With all the rumors floating around Stan Kasten possibly discussing the G.M. position with Tony LaCava, one must wonder if this move is just the start. What say you, Federal Baseball loyalists?