"I wouldn't be lying to say that when he steps to the plate here he's going to probably feel like he's at home," said Padres reliever Cla Meredith, who's been disappointed with the dwindling crowds during San Diego's dismal season. "There's no doubt about it."

RANGERS BORROWED CASH FROM MLB: The Texas Rangers borrowed millions of dollars from Major League Baseball within the last week, according to a Yahoo! report.

Rangers spokesman John Blake told the Web site that the club would have no comment, and Rich Levin, a spokesman for the commissioner's office, said baseball does not comment on team finances.

Baseball will continue to offer financial assistance to owner Tom Hicks until he is able to sell the team, the Web site reported, citing a major league source with direct knowledge of the situation.

CUBAN PROSPECT DEFECTS: 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.

Champman's defection was first reported on the Spanish-language Web site cubaencuentro.com. He told the site that he was in Europe, but refused to reveal his location.

A source told ESPN that Chapman was scheduled to fly to Miami on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Chapman is considered by many scouts to be the No. 1 left-handed prospect in the world.

CARDINALS SIGN TOP PROSPECT: 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.

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

Cardinals vice president Jeff Luhnow announced details of their signing at a news conference in Santo Domingo.

"We have a tradition of competing and winning and Dominicans have been a big part of that success. We hope that one day soon, Wagner joins Albert Pujols and helps us win," Luhnow said.

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.

BAY NOW AN AMERICAN: Red Sox left fielder Jason Bay married an American, has two American daughters and makes his living playing America's pastime.