Cardinals to Sign Wagner Mateo

The Cardinals are poised to make their biggest international signing in team history.

Who is Wagner Mateo? A 16-year-old boy about to become a rich, rich man, that's who he is. The Cardinals appear ready at the end of this month to make their biggest splash in the international market, since, well, ever. Baseball America, tell us what the man has won:

A $3 million bonus would be the second-biggest bonus ever given to an amateur international player from Latin America, and the largest bonus ever for a Latin American hitter. Oakland righthander Michael Ynoa set the all-time bonus record last year with a $4.25 million bonus on July 2, while Rafael Rodriguez set the record for a position player last year by signing for $2.55 million with the Giants. Mateo is represented by Edgar Mercedes, who also trained Ynoa last year at his Born To Play Baseball Academy.

Wagner Mateo is an outfielder with a good frame and possessing a plethora of tools. Future Redbirds has a solid video on him, and he doesn't look like he has too many holes in his lefthanded swing.

In case you don't know, the international signing period is the time clubs can make formal offers to international players not eligible for the MLB Draft. July 2nd marks the beginning of that period, but clubs have been scouting and talking to players for quite some time now. 16-year-olds like Wagner have agents that try to sell their clients to the big clubs hoping to stock the farm system outside of the draft.

If Wagner indeed signs, you won't see him for quite some time, as he'll trudge his way along the Cardinals' farm system. But he'll be there, by golly, he'll be there. And we'll be watching.