The Cardinals have signed Dominican righthander Andres Serrano for $750,000, a deal that was agreed to in October and is still pending Major League Baseball's investigation into Serrano's age and identity.

Serrano, 17, has a long-armed, projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and a fastball that scouts have said they've seen range anywhere from 90-95 mph. Serrano is a good athlete who also throws a curveball and a changeup, with the curveball the most advanced of his secondary offerings. Serrano is from Santiago, where he trained with Maximo Grullon. The Cardinals' top two Latin American prospects, righthander Carlos Martinez and outfielder Oscar Taveras, were also signed out of the northern part of the Dominican Republic. 

If the contract is approved, Serrano's bonus would be the highest of 2011 for a Dominican pitcher. Mariners Venezuelan righthander Victor Sanchez ($2.5 million), Blue Jays Mexican righthander Roberto Osuna ($1.5 million), Rangers Venezuelan lefthander Yohander Mendez ($1.5 million), Reds Venezuelan righthander Jonathan Perez ($825,000) and Cubs Cuban lefthander Frank Del Valle ($800,000) were the only other international pitchers who got bigger deals in 2011.