VIERA, Fla. -- The Tigers have good reason to take interest in the controversy involving former pitching great Jose Rijo, who was dismissed as a special assistant by the Washington Nationals on Thursday. Detroit rents part of Rijo's baseball facility in his native Dominican Republic for their Dominican academy, as well as for their team in the Dominican Summer League.

At this point, however, it doesn't look like the issue and its aftermath will have an immediate effect on Detroit's farm system.

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

The Nationals also housed their Dominican academy at Rijo's facility but are moving out in the aftermath of their decision. The Tigers will be left as the one Major League team still using the facility.

Tigers vice president and assistant general manager Al Avila said Thursday that they have a lease with Rijo through this year to use the facilities, including a full diamond, half diamond, living and dining quarters, and they expect to serve that out.

"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 only real effect Rijo's situation could have is on the schedule for the Tigers' Dominican Summer League team, and it could be good news. The Nationals have two teams that the Tigers club has played in its division. However, Avila said, the Tigers have talked to the league in the past about adding different teams to their schedule. The facility is located in San Cristobal, about an hour east of Santo Domingo.

The Tigers have used Rijo's facility for the last several years, housing as many as 40 players there while also bringing in kids for tryouts. Avila said they review their situation in the Dominican each year.

"The facility has served us well to this point," Avila said.

Several teams that once leased Rijo's facilities have built their own academies, but that really isn't a viable option for the Tigers given the current economy. Their realistic options would seemingly involve renting out facilities from someone else, whether it's another club or someone in the Dominican. That isn't something that's anywhere close on the horizon.

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