By Marc Carig
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, July 12, 2008

BOSTON, July 11 -- A recently fired Baltimore Orioles scout is linked to an illegal sports gambling probe run by Major League Baseball's investigative unit, the Web site SI.com reported on Friday.

Citing unidentified sources, the report said the Orioles fired scout Alan Marr last week after his name came up in connection with the probe -- a joint venture by the MLB investigations unit and the FBI -- which is also looking into the possibility of scouts skimming from the signing bonuses of Latin American players.

"I can confirm that he is no longer in our employ," Orioles President Andy MacPhail said of Marr. MacPhail declined to elaborate.

"A couple of weeks ago, it started going around that there were a bunch of guys caught up in this, and he was one of them," said one longtime scout who has known Marr for many years. "He's a good guy." The scout declined to be identified because the investigation is ongoing.

A man who answered Marr's listed home phone number in Sarasota, Fla., denied that Marr lived there.

Marr worked as the Orioles' national cross checker, one of the highest-ranking positions within the scouting department. Before coming to Baltimore, Marr worked as a scout in the San Francisco Giants organization, where he gained acclaim for signing current Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan.

The team will not have any updates on Adam Loewen's condition until next week, Manager Dave Trembley said. MacPhail said the left-hander is consulting doctors after he re-injured a stress fracture in his left elbow. Staff writer Dave Sheinin contributed to this report.

UP NEXT Today at Red Sox7:05 p.m. Liz (3-1) vs. Wakefield (5-6) MASN Tomorrow at Red Sox1:35 p.m. Cabrera (6-4) vs. Matsuzaka (9-1) MASN, TBS, WJZ-13