NEW YORK -- Major league teams spent a record $267.95 million on signing bonuses for players drafted last month, a 7.4 percent increase from last years final total of $249.38 million.Spending initially declined when restraints were put in place ahead of the 2012 draft, but has gradually risen under the five-year labor contract with the players association.Teams spent $234 million in the 2011 draft on amateurs residing in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. The total dropped to $209 million in the first year of restraints, went up to $220 million the following year, then rose to $224 million in 2014 and $249 million in 2015, according to figures compiled by Major League Baseball.The amateur draft has been a principle reason for the level of competitive balance that youve seen in the game in recent years, baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said last week.It re-established the original purpose of the draft, which was to get the clubs that played the worst the year before access to the best talent.The pseudo-slotting system has done away with this nonsense that used go on where the best player would get picked 21st because he had demands that clubs didnt think theyd be able to meet, and I think thats been a really, really important change.Teams draft in the reverse order of their record the previous year. Baseballs labor contract that began in 2012 assigned each club a bonus pool -- the sum of the recommended draft bonuses for a teams selections in the first 10 rounds.For players selected in the 11th round and beyond, portions of signing bonuses above $100,000 count against the signing bonus pool. The slot values rise each year based on industry revenue growth and cannot decrease.Clubs that exceed their pools are assessed a 75 percent tax on the amount over from 0-5 percent, then additionally would be penalized with the loss of a first-round pick the next year if they are more than 5 percent over. No team has exceeded 5 percent in the five seasons of the system.Atlanta spent the most this year on amateur draft signing bonuses at nearly $15.6 million, followed by Philadelphia ($15 million), San Diego ($14.9 million) and Cincinnati ($14.7 million).The Cubs were last at $2.96 million.Players had until last Friday to reach agreements, except for those who have exhausted college eligibility; they can sign until a week before next years draft. Air Force 1 Low Femme Pas Cher . Blackwood, 28, has played the last three seasons in the San Diego Padres system, including the past two summers with Class AA San Antonio of the Texas League. Air Force 1 Low Noir . Brett Kulak and Jackson Houck of the Vancouver Giants were each charged with assault causing bodily harm on Aug. 18, according to the B.C. court services. http://www.siteairforce1pascher.fr/ . Francis told several hundred members of the European Olympic Committees that when sport "is considered only in economic terms and consequently for victory at every cost . Site Nike Air Force 1 Pas Cher . Tevez, who has had conflicts with coaches in the past, has not been called up since Sabella was named coach in 2011. Argentina boasts Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Angel Di Maria. Air Force 1 France . Datsyuk will miss Tuesdays game against New Jersey and could be sidelined longer, while Cleary will likely miss at least the next three games. Its been an injury-plagued season for Datsyuk, who has suited up for just 39 games. TORONTO -- Roman Torres scored in the sixth round of penalty kicks to give the Seattle Sounders their first MLS Cup title, 5-4 over Toronto FC after 120 scoreless minutes Saturday night.It was the first MLS Cup final to fail to produce a goal in regulation, setting the stage for a dramatic tiebreaker.While Torontos Michael Bradley and Alvaro Fernandez for Seattle had both seen their shots saved, the game went to sudden-death spot kicks. Torontos Justin Morrow could only clatter his shot off the crossbar, setting the stage for Torres to win it with a high shot down the middle of the goal.Former Toronto FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei was named the games most valuable player.Seattle became the first team in MLS Cup final history to fail to produce a shot on target throughout the game. Additionally, the Sounders three shots overall were the fewest in an MLS title game, the first to feature two expansion franchises. Toronto was the first Canadian MLS Cup finalist.After a fairly subdued 90 minutes of regulation, extra time produced a number of opportunities, but even with Toronto enjoying a 7-0 shot advantage in the 30-minute period, no breakthrough could be found.Seattles lone chance to score in extra time came from a defensive error. Torontos Steven Beitashour saw Brad Evans cross deflect goalward off his leg in the 112th minute, but Clint Irwin bravely dove on the ball to take it away from Torres.Toronto coach Greg Vanney removed former MLS most valuable player Sebastian Giovinco in the 103rd minute in favour of Tosaint Ricketts. The gutsy call almost paid off.Following Ricketts cross five minutes after coming on, it looked as if Altidore was going to give Toronto the lead in the 108th minute with a looping header, but an athletic save from Frei kept it scoreless. Leaping to his left, he scooped the ball off the line with his lefft hand, allowing his defense to clear the ball to safety.ddddddddddddA minute earlier, Ricketts had had a great chance of his own wen a defensive clearance fell to him 16 yards out, but with Frei flat-footed he could only drive his right-footed shot wide of the right post.At the end of regulation, Toronto had a chance to win it in stoppage time when Nick Hagglund headed a Bradley corner kick toward Altidore in the 6-yard box, but Frei reacted bravely to punch the ball clear to end the threat and send the final to extra time.Before that the game was very much in Torontos control, with the home side unleashing 12 shots, three of which hit the target. Seattle couldnt even muster a shot until the 76th minute, when Osvaldo Alonsos effort from 25 yards out was charged down by Bradley, and though the Sounders finished the 90 minutes with three, none required Irwin to make a save.ONE COLD NIGHTThe temperature at kickoff was 28 degrees, making it the second-coldest MLS Cup on record. That honor goes to the 2013 edition at Sporting Park in Kansas City, where the game kicked off at 22 degrees.ONE HOT TICKETWhile the remaining tickets for Saturdays final sold out in three minutes after going on sale to the general public last Monday, there were still 90 or so tickets available on StubHub 10 minutes prior to kickoff. Prices ranged from $147 up to $2,500 for a ticket that retailed between $55 and $555 at face value.THE POWER OF CHANGESeattles Brian Schmetzer became the first coach in MLS history to take charge of a team midway through the season and lead it to a championship. Sigi Schmid (Los Angeles Galaxy) and Steve Nicol (New England Revolution) took their teams to the title match, but both came up short. ' ' '
