• FLE - In this June 6, 2018 file photo Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani watches a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Anaheim, Calif. Ohtani will be re-evaluated within the next three weeks to gauge progress in his recovery from a sprained ligament in his right elbow. Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced the slight adjustment to Ohtani’s timeline Monday, June 18, 2018 before his club opened an interleague series against Arizona. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, file) Photo: Kyusung Gong / AP
Photo: Kyusung Gong
Image 1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1
FLE - In this June 6, 2018 file photo Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani watches a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Anaheim, Calif. Ohtani will be re-evaluated within the next three weeks to gauge progress in his recovery from a sprained ligament in his right elbow. Angels manager Mike Scioscia announced the slight adjustment to Ohtani’s timeline Monday, June 18, 2018 before his club opened an interleague series against Arizona. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, file) less
FLE - In this June 6, 2018 file photo Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Shohei Ohtani watches a pitch during the third inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals in Anaheim, Calif. Ohtani will ... more
Photo: Kyusung Gong

Spending on signing bonuses for international amateur free agents dropped 25 percent to $153 million from $203 million in the first year of restraints, which cost Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani more than $100 million.

Spending was capped by baseball's collective bargaining agreement beginning with the signing period from last July 2 through June 15.

Dominican shortstop Wander Franco got the top bonus, $3,825,000 from Tampa Bay. Venezuelan catcher Daniel Flores was next (Boston, $3.3 million).

Five others got bonuses of more than $2 million: Cuban outfielder Julio Pablo Martinez ($2.8 million, Texas), Bahamian outfielder Kristian Robinson ($2.55 million, Arizona), Dominican shortstop Luis Garcia ($2.5 million, Philadelphia), Ohtani ($2,315,000, Angels) and Dominican shortstop Rony Mauricio ($2.1 million, Mets).

Under the new rules, international amateurs were redefined as under 25 years old and with less than six years of professional experience, up from 23 years old and less than five years of experience. That meant teams were limited to what they could offer Ohtani, who hit .289 with six homers and 20 RBIs in 34 games and went 4-1 with a 3.10 ERA before the right-hander hurt his pitching elbow. Under the old rules, he would likely have signed a long-term deal for more than $150 million.

During the 2016-17 signing period, four Cubans were given contracts that included signing bonuses above $5 million: Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert agreed to $26 million, followed by San Diego pitcher Adrian Morejon at $11 million, and Cincinnati shortstop Alfredo Rodriguez and Padres outfielder Jorge Ona at $7 million each.

San Diego spent $40.8 million on international amateurs in the 2016-17 signing period, incurring a $37.4 million tax. Other big spenders were the White Sox ($29 million in bonuses, $25.2 million in tax), Cincinnati ($17.7 million/$12.4 million) and Atlanta ($17.3 million/$12.8 million).

Under the labor contract agreed to in November 2016, hard restrictions were put in place. Sixteen teams initially were limited in 2017-18 to $4.75 million, six to $5.25 million and eight to $5.75 million — all not counting bonuses of up to $10,000. Teams were able to trade allocations, and the Yankees boosted theirs to $8,309,000, Texas to $8.1 million and Boston to $8 million.