The sweetest amateur free agent signing in St. Louis Cardinals team history quickly went sour.
The Wagner Mateo era in St. Louis lasted exactly 82 days, from signing on July 2 to the September 22 announcement that the 16-year-old’s club-record $3.1 million contract had been voided. It had been the second-largest bonus ever given to an amateur Latin American player and the largest bonus for a Latin American hitter.
Late in July, Mateo had been introduced to the press amid great pomp and circumstance in St. Louis, a day that included the teenager taking batting practice at Busch Stadium. Club officials gushed that the centerfielder would have been a top ten talent had he been a part of the regular June First-Year Player Draft.
The excitement almost immediately turned to dismay.
As the result of a physical examination held during that same trip, the Cardinals determined the Dominican Republic native had pre-existing injuries and physical defects in his right eye that may be degenerative in nature. Those problems led to the decision by the club to void the contract within the allowable 90-day window post-signing.
Mateo’s agent and trainer Edgar Mercedes disagreed, stating an incorrect sizing of the teenager’s contact lenses led to an infection that affected his cornea. The agent asserted there was nothing more to the problem than that, the issue had been diagnosed and Mateo was on track in his recovery. He hinted legal action might be initiated.
It would seem the rest of the baseball world shares at least some of the Cardinals concern. While Mateo has continued to demonstrate his skills at workouts and showcases, no other club has yet re-signed the talented youngster in the subsequent 90 days. If and when Mateo does secure a new contract, rumors are that it could be a third or less of his voided Cardinals deal.
Though organization officials assert it is not the case, others wonder if the negative publicity in the US and abroad could impact the Cardinals’ growing Latin American initiatives.
Only time will tell.
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I’ll reserve final judgment until I see what else is on the list but my gut take is that this is a top 10 story at least.
My initial list had over 30 candidates. I eliminated some and combined others. I then put them in High-Medium-Low groups and ranked within the groups. Generally speaking, the major league stories took precedence.
On this one specifically, while it was very visible, it is difficult to determine what was lost. It wasn’t like the money was forfeited or the services of a valued player were taken away. It seems more a missed opportunity of undefined importance in my view. Plus, I wanted to start the series with a good one!
http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/commishs-hot-stove/commishs-hot-stove/cardinal-beat-updates/2009/12/agent-pujols-extension-independent-of-holliday/
I found Joe’s attempt to enter Albert space with this story, to say the least…..provocative.
I think if the Yankees do sign Nick Johnson, it encourages me to think they are pressuring Boras on a number of fronts. Or not…………………. Damon is worthless outside the Yankee hype. Where will they find an outfielder?
I kind of agree with Carioca, this might be a higher story. Its not just about Mateo, but about the buildup of the Cards international recruitment program. Mateo was a crown of those efforts, but turned into a crowning blow, because of the fickle finger of Fate.
Its my impression that the Cards did not sign any other pricey Latin lad this summer. We saved all our moola for this one. (Does this seem right to you, Brian?)
The good news is the Cards achieved what they wanted, in signing Mateo. They accomplished their goal. The injury was unfortunate, but stuff happens.
Also the Mateo signing reveals what the Cards wanted to do. The preceding year they had wooed Yorman Rodriguez, an uber fast right swinging CF. Luhnow likes CFs. Mateo I would guess projects best for corner OF. Mateo gave a left swinging corner OF. So far, the Cards have not shelled out a lot of bonus money on pitchers, but have generally been focusing their biggest bets on position players. They seem to be placing good tactical bets, though its a long climb to the majors.
I don’t see Mateo’s situation as either the crowning moment of or the crushing blow to the Cardinals’ Latin initiatives – at least not until there are rumors of players refusing to sign with them. He is just one player, though he has the highest of profiles.
This year, it seems there have been fewer big-bucks international signings anywhere in baseball. I reported on a trio of Cardinals signings from Venezuela and Colombia earlier this winter (
TCN insider article) and they have a group of eight to ten more from the Dominican that I will be writing about once all the paperwork is done. I have no idea at this time how much the Cardinals paid for them, but it surely isn’t Mateo money. Perhaps they have international “dry powder” too? 
Good one on international dry powder. Maybe Holliday can get his mitts on some of that.
July signings seem the biggest bucks. The Cards are probably always going to sign some guys every winter to fill up the rosters and hope somebody surprises in due course.
Maybe between steroids, fake birth certificates, and kickbacks, teams are less eager to ladle out big bonuses around Latin America.