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. Robbie Ray Jersey . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. Zack Greinke Diamondbacks Jersey . The Nashville Predators were glad their captain was still on their side. Weber had a goal and two assists, and Roman Josi scored the shootout winner to lift the Predators to a 4-3 win over the Flyers on Thursday night. http://www.diamondbackssale.com/diamondbacks-eduardo-escobar-jersey/ . Kiriasis and brakeman Franziska Fritz finished two runs in one minute 55.41 seconds -- a mere 0.01 seconds ahead of Meyers and Lolo Jones, who likely bolstered her Olympic hopes by helping give USA-1 a huge push in the second heat. Andrew Chafin Jersey . Rob Manfred, baseballs chief operating officer, testified last week during the grievance filed by the players union to overturn Rodriguezs 211-game suspension. A person familiar with the hearing, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that Manfred testified the sport wasnt concerned whether Bosch distributed performance-enhancing drugs to minors because MLBs interest was his relationship with players under investigation. Taijuan Walker Jersey . Hamelin, who triumphed in the 500 on Saturday, edged out Victor An of Russia by 0.021 seconds to maintain his lead in the World Cup standings. Russias Vladimir Grigorev was third. In the relay, Canada took control six laps from the finish line to beat Russia and the Netherlands. Paul Gallen will be a certain starter for Cronullas NRL preliminary final, however there are fresh concerns over Valentine Holmes after the winger missed training on Tuesday.Gallen proved he has overcome a back injury after completing the entire field session at Woolooware on Tuesday despite earlier stating he would participate in half the practice.But while all eyes were on the Sharks skipper ahead of Fridays final against North Queensland, young star Holmes was a notable absentee.A Sharks official said Holmes was at the ground but withheld from training due to a virus, but isnt considered in doubt for the grand final qualifier.Gallen missed the Sharks qualifying final victory over Canberra a fortnight ago, and has at times struggled to move since pulling up lame from a training session before the match.And while coach Shane Flanagan cleared him on Sunday to return for the must-win grand final qualifier, Gallen has confirmed he wont carry any injury concerns into the match.ddddddddddddIf nothing goes wrong between now and the game I will be 100 per cent fit, he told Sky Sports Radios Big Sports Breakfast.I feel fresh, I feel good and I will be fine on Friday.Gallen returned to training on Sunday, completing around half of the session, and has a rest day on Wednesday before Thursdays traditional captains run.He held no fears about a recurrence of the injury, which is believed to have originated from a surgery he had on his back a decade ago.Its happened twice in 10 years - its a fair way apart. It is a concern that you dont know when its going to happen or why it happens, he said.But Ive got no concerns this week that come warm-up or come captains run that its going to go again. Ill be okay. ' ' '