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Santo Domingo.– The St. Louis Cardinals and representatives for 16-year-old Dominican outfielder Wagner Mateo have agreed in principal on a signing bonus that would make Mateo the franchise's highest-priced amateur acquisition out of the Caribbean, sources familiar with the situation told the press.

Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak refused to confirm a deal being in place, citing baseball's prohibition against officially signing players out of the Caribbean until July 2. But sources insist the Cardinals have swayed the 6-foot-1 player with an offer worth about $3.1 million. ESPN Deportes also reported a deal being in place Friday afternoon.

Mozeliak returned last week from a trip to the Dominican to attend a workout the Cardinals hosted for Mateo. Accompanied by Cardinals director of international operations Moises Rodriguez, Mozeliak also met with the power-hitting outfielder's family and discussed financial parameters.

The Cardinals opened an academy in La Victoria north of Santo Domingo in 2005 and have also raised their visibility in Venezuela.

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COMMENTS
8 comment(s)
Written by: THINK, 28 Jun 2009 12:34 PM
From: United States, Santo Domingo -- Mia --NY
That is great for Mateo, not only the financial wise, but the social responsibility wise. I wish he can show a good example for those young kids in DR.
Written by: Edward, 28 Jun 2009 2:36 PM
From: United States, Faux News: Unfair Imbalance
I hope he's really 16 and not 22.
Written by: xwill7, 29 Jun 2009 10:56 AM
From: United States, Chicago
lol edward...
every team wants the Dominican bat in their line up.
Written by: chillaxin201 This user is banned, 29 Jun 2009 7:55 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Boycott Dominican Tourism
Cardinals rock!!!!!! Yankees and Cards are he best..
he must be related to me, He has my last name
Written by: Juango, 30 Jun 2009 10:39 AM
From: United States, far S. Florida (formerly Santo Domingo)
Great News! Congrats to Mateo, but my question is. Can he sign his name on the contract? Oh well, I forgot, he can draw two "Xs" and use his thumbprints.....
Written by: fedadiaz, 4 Jul 2009 11:20 AM
From: Dominican Republic
Cada ladron juzga por su condicion !!!!! Do you understand this, Juango ?

La ignorancia y la holgazaneria solo trae malos pensamientos y deseos de ver a los que triunfan caer......
Written by: fedadiaz, 4 Jul 2009 11:22 AM
From: Dominican Republic
A los nuevos prospectos les deseo la mejor de las carreras y que sigan el ejemplo de el pricipe Albert Pujols.........seriedad , integridad y entrega.
Written by: FredCDobbs This user is banned, 6 Jul 2009 4:02 PM
From: Dominican Republic, Parque Colon statue of Anacaona
Clubhouse confidential: GM Mark Shapiro says there's no chance for the Indians to retrieve any portion of the $575,000 bonus they paid to Wally Bryan last year when they believed he was Jose Ozoria, a 17-year-old shortstop from the Dominican Republic.

Bryan was caught in a recent MLB dragnet in which his true identity and age were uncovered. Bryan, 20, still is playing for the Indians' Dominican Summer League team.

"If we suspended him, we're only hurting ourselves," said Shapiro. "We still like the player's talent. The chance of getting any of the bonus back is gone. The buscone [agent] has the bonus."

Shapiro said that between "70 and 120 players" signed as international free agents last year in the Dominican Republic could be playing under phony names and ages.
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