WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 2017 SPORTS MLB international spending soars above $200 million NEW YORK: A record $203 million was professional experience, up from 23 White Sox ($29 million in bonuses, $25.2 Each team receives a $4.75 million Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco are spent on international amateur free years old and less than five years of million in tax), Cincinnati ($17.7 mil- spending pool in the 2017-18 interna- not allowed to in 2017-18. agents in the just-ended signing period, experience. That means less money will lion/$12.4 million), Atlanta ($17.3 mil- tional signing period that starts July 2, Boras maintains young athletes will nearly $50 million more than the previ- be chasing more players. lion/$12.8 million), Houston ($10.8 mil- and the 14 teams with competitive-bal- reject baseball because of a lower eco- ous high and a figure that will plummet “That’s going to really drive a lot of lion/$8.6 million), St. Louis ($11 mil- ance round draft picks also get extra nomic potential. when a hard cap on spending starts July these players to Japanese and Korean lion/$9 million), Oakland ($10 mil- international cap room. “The problem with all of this is other 2. Four Cubans were given contracts that baseball,” agent Scott Boras predicted. lion/$6.2 million), and Washington ($8.3 For 2017-18, Cincinnati, Miami, sports are benefiting dramatically,” he included signing bonuses above $5 mil- Restraints were introduced in the 2012- million/$6 million). Milwaukee, Minnesota, Oakland and said. “Soccer in particular is clapping its lion. Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis 16 labor contract on spending on draft Robert agreed to the second-highest Tampa Bay get an additional $500,000 hands.” Mota, who consulted on the Robert led the way at $26 million, fol- picks, players who reside in the US, bonus for an international amateur, each, and Arizona, Baltimore, Cleveland, negotiations that led to Dominican lowed by San Diego pitcher Adrian Canada and Puerto Rico. Bonuses for behind only the $31.5 million deal in Colorado, Houston, Kansas City, shortstop Luis Almanzar’s $4.05 million Morejon at $11 million, and Cincinnati those players totaled $234 million in 2015 between Cuban infielder Yoan Pittsburgh and San Diego $1 million deal with San Diego last summer, said shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez and Padres 2011, dropped to $223 million in the first Moncada and Boston, which sent him to apiece. Clubs also can trade their cap some teams that had not pursued inter- outfielder Jorge Ona at $7 million each. year of the new rules and didn’t reach the White Sox in December as part of allocation in increments of $250,000 national players until now may enter the Baseball’s new labor contract impos- their prior level until 2015’s $249 million, the trade that brought pitcher Chris Sale (and whatever portion of $250,000 is left market because the prices will be lower. es a cap on bonuses for international according to Major League Baseball. to the Red Sox. at the end) starting July 2, with the Mota said handlers of Latin American amateurs, with 16 teams limited in 2017- Draft spending rose to $269 million for Some American players were angry restriction a team can acquire only 75 players, who often sign them young in 18 to $4.75 million, six to $5.25 million 2016 selections. that international bonuses soared as percent more than it was originally exchange for a percentage of the bonus- and eight to $5.75 million - all not count- At the same time, spending on inter- their own were limited. Many assigned. es, are not prepared for the new system. ing bonuses of up to $10,000. national amateurs increased from $74 Venezuelan and Cuban prospects sign Some teams have incentive to trade Like Boras, Mota says Japan could “The party’s over for all big signing million in 2012-13 to $156 million in around the time they turn 16. Cubans their cap space because of penalties lin- become an alternative for Cubans until bonuses for international amateurs. It’s 2015-16 before the latest hike. And that generally sign at an older age. gering from the old rules. Atlanta, they turn 25. no doubt,” agent Andy Mota said was despite a tax on teams who exceed- “I think the goal was to treat interna- Cincinnati, Houston, Oakland, St. Louis, “I talk to people who own players, Monday. “It’s a reality that’s setting in, ed their assigned bonus pools. tional players more comparable to San Diego and Washington are prohibit- people who manage players, they’ve especially with Cuban players.” San Diego spent $40.8 million on domestic players with respect to the ed from signing international amateurs been used to asking for whatever they And under the new rules, internation- international amateurs in the period that signing bonuses they receive upon sign- for bonuses of more than $300,000 in want or playing hardball with teams,” al amateurs were redefined as under 25 ended June 15, incurring a $37.4 million ing their first contract,” said Dan Halem, the next two signing periods, while the Mota said, “and that’s no longer going to years old and with less than six years of tax. Other high rollers included the MLB’s chief legal officer. Chicago Cubs, Kansas City, the Los be the case,” Mota said.—AP LOS ANGELES: Los Angeles Dodgers’ Chase Utley, right, slides into home plate to score on a single by Justin Turner as New York Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud fields the throw during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Monday, in Los Angeles. —AP BASEBALL Kluber has 5th career shutout as Cleveland wins BALTIMORE: Corey Kluber pitched a three- beat Washington. Marlins slugger Justin Bour Blaine Boyer (0-1) gave up Merrifield’s bounc- run to score in the seventh. Hector Rondon retired 16 of the last 17 hitters he faced. The hitter for his fifth career shutout and Jason tied the game at 6 in the third with a grand ing RBI single in the seventh. Boyer was lifted (2-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win, Giants’ skid is the longest of a hugely disap- Kipnis and Carlos Santana homered as slam, his 18th homer. Giancarlo Stanton also after Lorenzo Cain added an insurance run and Davis struck out Wil Myers and got pointing season as they dropped to 26-46 Cleveland overpowered the Baltimore hit his 18th of the season to make it 7-all in with a single, the second straight night Hunter Renfroe to ground out with runners and fell 20 games behind first-place Orioles 12-0 Monday night for its season- the seventh. Bryce Harper hit his 18th homer Boston’s stingy bullpen has allowed a pair of on second and third for his 14th save in 14 Colorado in the NL West. Adams homered in high sixth straight victory. Santana and for the Nationals. Anthony Rendon also went runs. Red Sox relievers had thrown 26 chances. Kirby Yates (1-1) allowed an the fourth off Johnny Cueto (5-7) and added Austin Jackson had three RBIs apiece for the deep before leaving in the fifth inning with a straight scoreless innings before the slump. unearned run but took the loss. an RBI single in the eighth to key a seven-run AL Central leaders, whose recent surge has neck stinger he sustained diving for a Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer for outburst that made it a rout. He has 10 lifted them to a season-best six games over grounder. He is day to day Washington Boston. PIRATES 8, BREWERS 1 homers and 27 RBIs since being acquired .500 (37-31). Cleveland batted around in the starter Tanner Roark squandered a 6-0 lead Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run homer, from St. Louis on May 20. fourth and fifth innings and sent eight men by giving up six runs in the third. Enny BLUE JAYS 7, RANGERS 6 Gerrit Cole pitched seven strong innings and to the plate in a three-run sixth that made it Romero (2-3) took the loss. A.J. Ramos (2-3) Kendrys Morales hit a go-ahead single Pittsburgh beat Milwaukee. Travis Shaw’s REDS 7, RAYS 3 11-0. Cleveland banged out a season-high worked a scoreless ninth and the Marlins after a tying single by Josh Donaldson in the leadoff homer in the second put the Brewers Scott Schebler and Scooter Gennett 10 extra-base hits, including seven doubles. won for the 11th time in their past 13 home ninth inning, and Toronto edged Texas in a ahead 1-0 and set a franchise mark, with the homered and Joey Votto snapped an eighth- Kluber (6-2) struck out 11 and walked none games. Miami lost to Atlanta on walk-off hits matchup of AL Division Series opponents the Brewers scoring their 16th consecutive run inning tie with an RBI single, helping in his 12th career complete game and sec- by Brandon Phillips on Saturday and Sunday. past two seasons. The Blue Jays won despite via the long ball. The Pirates took the lead in Cincinnati end a season-high nine-game los- ond shutout this season. The right-hander blowing a 5-1 lead in their first visit to Texas the third on Adam Frazier’s two-run single off ing streak with a victory over Tampa Bay. scattered three singles and struck out the ROYALS 4, RED SOX 2 since last postseason, when they won the starter Matt Garza (3-3).