SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners said they signed 16-year-old right-hander Wang Chao of China to a contract Tuesday.
A spokesman from China's Baseball Association said neither the team nor the organization was informed of the move. Yang Jie said Wang needed permission to play for an overseas team.
"We will take measures including legal steps," Yang said. "He is just 16 years old and does not meet the conditions for going abroad."
The 6-foot-4, 160-pound Wang, from Beijing, spent several weeks with the Mariners in Peoria, Ariz., in spring training this year.
"We are always hard at work to expand our international scouting," said Roger Jongewaard, the Mariners vice president of scouting and player development. Chao is the first player signed out of China, but we think he may be the first of many as China continues to expand its baseball program."
Wang is scheduled to work out with Mariners pitching coach Bryan Price before Wednesday night's game with Detroit.
Japan's Ichiro Suzuki and Kazuhiro Sasaki have played key roles in Seattle's successful season this year. Suzuki has the most hits in the majors. Sasaki, Seattle's closer, helped the Mariners reach the AL championship series last season.
The Mariners also announced Tuesday they have signed left-hander Robert Livingston, their fourth-round pick from June's draft. Livingston was 9-1 with an 0.22 ERA in 64 innings pitched at Trinity Christian High School in Lubbock, Texas, last season.
The team has signed 24 of its 53 picks taken in June, including its first eight selections and 19 of its first 21 selections.