Agencies/Jupiter (Florida)


The St Louis Cardinals signed Cuban free agent shortstop Aledmys Diaz to a major league contract and he’ll report to spring training on Monday.
The Cardinals were among a number of teams, including the Yankees, who held private workouts for the right-handed hitting Diaz and the deal is believed to be for $15-20 million for four years.
The team planned a news conference for Monday.
“We have been following Aledmys for quite some time,” general manager John Mozeliak said in a statement. “His signing marks a significant benchmark for the Cardinals in the international arena and we are excited to have reached this agreement.”
The deal came a day after St. Louis signed third baseman and leadoff man Matt Carpenter to a six-year, $52 million contract. During the offseason, the Cardinals committed $53 million over four years to sign free agent shortstop Jhonny Peralta, so they could face a position logjam in the near future.
The 23-year-old Diaz batted .315 with 12 home runs and 11 steals in 270 at-bats in 2012 for Los Naranjas de Villa Clara, Cuba’s highest professional league, which has produced Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes, the Dodgers’ Yasiel Puig and Cincinnati’s Aroldis Chapman.
The Cardinals anticipate the 6-foot-1, 195-pound Diaz will start the year at the high minor league level.
Diaz has represented Cuba in several international tournaments, including the 2010 World University Championship games in Tokyo, Japan, and lives in Mexico City.
 Meanwhile Atlanta Braves starter Kris Medlen left Sunday’s Grapefruit League game against the New York Mets in the fourth inning with a strained right forearm.
Medlen grabbed his right elbow and turned his back to home plate after throwing a pitch to New York’s Matt Clark.
The 28-year-old is scheduled to be Atlanta’s Opening Day starter. He was examined by the team’s doctor and will be re-evaluated on Monday.
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Don Mattingly says outfielder Matt Kemp is close to returning from offseason ankle surgery.  Kemp has yet to play in a spring training game this year.
The star outfielder has been running and tracking fly balls in the outfield. Even though Kemp will not play in the Dodgers’ regular-season opener in Australia, Mattingly believes he is progressing well.
Cincinnati Reds right-hander Mat Latos will not start Opening Day but could be ready to return by April 6, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. Latos is coming off recent knee surgery. He threw his first bullpen session of the spring on Wednesday and another on Saturday without any issues. Kansas City Royals second baseman Omar Infante, who has not played in a week due to shoulder inflammation, told the Kansas City Star that he feels better. The Venezuelan hopes to return to Cactus League action on Monday.
Last year, Infante batted .318 with 10 home runs and 51 RBIs with the Detroit Tigers. He signed a four-year, $30 million free-agent contract with the Royals in the offseason.