VIERA, Fla. -- Jose Rijo said Nationals general manager Jim Bowden told him on Thursday morning he has been dismissed as his special assistant and the team will no longer be using Rijo's baseball academy in the Dominican Republic.

Nationals team president Stan Kasten confirmed the decision on Thursday afternoon. Kasten also announced the club has dismissed most of the staff at Rijo's complex, including Jose Baez, who was the manager of the Nationals' Dominican program. There were also 14 Minor League players who were let go because the team said they underperformed on the field.

Rijo has been linked to Carlos Alvarez David Lugo, who previously called himself Esmailyn Gonzalez. The shortstop, who received a $1.4 million signing bonus from the Nationals in 2006, allegedly falsified his name and age. In Washington's 2008 media guide, Lugo is listed as 19, but is really 23. Major League Baseball's department of investigations is looking into the matter.

The Nationals will have a complex in the Boca Chica area, where they will have one Dominican Summer League team instead of the two they had in Rijo's complex.

"We have replaced virtually all the staff, which includes office staff, coaches and player development people," Kasten said. "We have physically removed everything from the Rijo complex and moved it to our new home, where we will begin our sessions on Monday. We have relocated all of our players out of the complex to move to the new, much fancier complex on Monday."

During his session with the media, Kasten never said Rijo was dismissed because of any wrongdoing in the Lugo case.

"I'm not blaming anyone over there. I'm not pointing any fingers down there," Kasten said. "As you know, there are open questions -- many of which I'm not privy to the answers. I just don't know. I do know as a franchise, we need to make a clean break and start over."

When reached by phone, Rijo sounded subdued when taking about not being part of the Nationals.

"I'm very surprised [by the dismissal], but I understand what ownership is thinking," Rijo said in a phone interview. "I guess the Nationals have to move on."

Rijo said on Saturday he was voluntarily taking a leave of absence because he didn't want to be a distraction to the Nationals and wanted to be with his ailing mother in the Dominican Republic. However, Kasten said the team told him to take a leave of absence.

Rijo also said Kasten told him not to talk to the media. But Rijo talked to the Washington Post in the Dominican Republic, saying he did nothing wrong.

"This is my reputation on the line," Rijo said on Wednesday night in explaining why he granted the interview. "I don't want anyone to hear a one-sided story. I've been in this game for over 20 years, and I did nothing wrong."

Rijo joined the team in 2005 as the chief administrator of the Nationals' Dominican Academy and a special pitching instructor during Spring Training. He played in the big leagues for 14 years, going 116-91 with a 3.24 ERA. He is best known for his years with the Reds and for winning the World Series Most Valuable Player Award in 1990.

Asked if he would get another job in baseball, Rijo said, "Why not? That's not a good question. People will find out that I did nothing wrong. I'm innocent."

Kasten would not say if more team employees would be dismissed, but said he still supports everyone who works for the Nationals.

"I continue to support everyone who works for the Nationals. That's not lip service. I sincerely mean it," Kasten said.

Bowden's possible role in the alleged skimming of signing bonuses given to prospects from Latin America is also being investigated, SI.com reported on Sunday night.

With the Nationals moving out of Rijo's academy in the Dominican Republic, the Tigers will be left as the only Major League team still using Rijo's facility. Tigers vice president and assistant general manager Al Avila said the team has a lease with Rijo through this year to use the facilities, including a full diamond, half diamond and living and dining quarters.

"Right now, it has not affected us," Avila said of Rijo's situation. "There's nothing really to say. We're functioning day-to-day normally. We have a contract. The facility has served us well to this point."

The Tigers have used Rijo's facility for several years, housing as many as 40 players there while also bringing in young players for tryouts. Avila said they review their situation in the Dominican each year. But while several teams that once leased Rijo's facilities have built their own academies, building a facility isn't really a viable option for the Tigers given the current economy.

"We don't have a whole lot of options," Avila said.