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The age and kind of bonus money being talked about here doesn't suggest a huge prospect, but maybe a useful one down the road.
Baseball America -- The Mets have agreed to terms with Luis Mateo for $150,000, which should end a three-year process for the 21-year-old Dominican righthander with a mid-90s fastball to get signed.
Mateo originally agreed to terms with the Giants on July 2, 2008, for $625,000. The Giants had that contract voided in August, however, when a physical revealed bone chips in his right elbow. Mateo was evaluated that September by Dr. Lewis Yocum, who saw no need for surgery on Mateo's elbow or shoulder and recommended aggressive rehab.
That November, the Padres agreed to a $300,000 deal with Mateo, though that contract also never became official. Major League Baseball's investigation into Mateo's background turned up "inconclusive," MLB's way of saying that it feels it lacks sufficient evidence to either confirm or reject the accuracy of a player's age and identity.
MLB finally suspended Mateo in March 2010 for one year for lying about his age, and his date of birth changed from March 17, 1992, to March 22, 1990. The Mets stayed on Mateo and struck a deal with him last week.
An athletic 6-foot-3, 175-pound pitcher with good arm speed back in 2008, Mateo has since filled out to 200 pounds. Mateo pitched in Colombia this winter and has thrown 93-96 mph with good angle along with a slider.
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