Baseball notes: Cards, Yanks pay big money for Dominican prospects

Cardinals, Yankees shell out big money for Dominicans

SANTO DOMINGO, Domican Republic - The St. Louis Cardinals gave a $3.1 million signing bonus to 16-year-old outfielder Wagner Mateo, considered to be among the top amateur free agents from Latin America.

New York also gave a $3 million bonus to a 16-year-old Dominican prospect, catcher Gary Sanchez.

General manager John Mozeliak said in St. Louis that if Mateo had been in last month's draft, he'd have been a top 10 pick.

"I think it's really hard to handicap, but given what he's accomplished so far I do think he'll be a quick mover," Mozeliak said.

CUBS: Chicago has acquired infielder Jeff Baker from the Colorado Rockies for minor league right-handed pitcher Al Alburquerque and designated infielder Ryan Freel for assignment.

Baker batted .268 with 12 home runs and 48 RBI in 104 games last year for the Rockies and can play several infield positions and the outfield.

INDIANS: Right-hander Winton Abreu has been acquired by Cleveland from the Tampa Bay Rays for minor league right-hander John Meloan.

The 32-year-old Abreu was brought up by Tampa Bay on June 14 and had a 2.45 ERA in two appearances. He was then designated for assignment on June 27.

ELSEWHERE: A top Cuban pitching prospect with a 100 mph fastball has defected from the national team while playing in a tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

ESPN The Magazine reports that several unidentified sources confirmed that Aroldis Chapman walked out of his hotel room and did not return.

The 21-year-old Chapman is considered by many scouts to be the No. 1 left-handed prospect in the world. He would be the most prominent Cuban baseball defector since Jose Contreras left during a tournament in Mexico in 2002.

-From Wire Reports