A top baseball prospect from the Dominican Republic who received a $1.4 million signing bonus from the Washington Nationals lied about his age and name in what team president Stan Kasten called "an elaborate scheme."

"I'm angry. I'm very angry. We've been defrauded," Kasten said yesterday. "And make no mistake: This wasn't a college kid with a fake ID.

"This was a deliberate, premeditated fraud" that involved bribes, along with falsified hospital and school records, Kasten said.

In July 2006, the Nationals signed a 16-year-old shortstop named Esmailyn "Smiley" Gonzalez. He wound up leading the rookie-level Gulf Coast League with a .343 batting average in 2008 and was honored as the league's MVP.

But while the Nationals have been listing his date of birth as Sept. 21, 1989 — which would make him 19 now — Kasten said yesterday that a Major League Baseball investigation determined Gonzalez is actually Carlos David Alvarez Lugo, born in November 1985 — meaning he is really 23.

"This is going to have serious repercussions," said Kasten, who spoke to reporters after SI.com first reported on Gonzalez/Lugo. "I have people examining all possible avenues of recourse, with regards to any legal and financial concerns."

ATHLETICS

WILLIAMS GETS INVITED

Former Hawai'i prep pitching star Jerome Williams is trying to resurrect his career at age 27 with the Oakland A's as a non-roster invitee.

The Waipahu High graduate made his major league debut in 2003 with the San Francisco Giants, starting 21 games his rookie year and finishing with a 7-5 record and a 3.30 earned run average.

Injuries and poor conditioning habits took a toll, and Williams opened last season with the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League.

MARINERS

GRIFFEY JR. RETURNS

Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to return to the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners announced the move last night. The 39-year-old star's contract is for one year and believed to be worth $2 million in base salary, plus incentives. He is is fifth on baseball's career home run list with 611.

Earlier in the day, a person with knowledge of the negotiations told The Associated Press that an apparent agreement with the Atlanta Braves had fallen through.

SHORT HOPS

Braves: Atlanta agreed yesterday on a $2.825 million, one-year contract with second baseman Kelly Johnson, who hit .287 with 12 homers and 69 RBIs, avoiding a salary arbitration hearing.

Nationals: Outfielder Josh Willingham, who hit .254 with 15 homers and 51 RBIs last season for the Florida Marlins before being traded to Washington, agreed to a $2.95 million contract with the Nationals, avoiding an arbitration.

Padres: Four-time Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, who retired in December after a 23-year Major League career with a 355-227 record and 3.16 ERA, has joined the San Diego Padres as a spring training instructor.