MLB teams spend record amount on draft pick signing bonuses

Baseball’s labor contract that began in 2012 assigned each club a bonus pool: the sum of the recommended draft bonuses for a team’s selections in the first 10 rounds.

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.

Arizona right-hander Zack Greinke is making slow progress in his return from injury, too slow for his liking.

“It would have been nice to be back a week ago,” he said before Wednesday’s game against Toronto, his first public comments since he went on the disabled list July 3 with a left oblique strain.

Greinke had rounded into his usual form in a series of starts before the injury, reeling off seven victories.

Greinke signed a $206.5 million, six-year contract in the offseason, and the Diamondbacks have been cautious with his rehab.

Texas first baseman Prince Fielder is facing the prospect of season-ending surgery after an MRI exam revealed a herniation of disks in his neck near an area that was repaired two years ago.

Fielder and outfielder Shin-Soo Choo were placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Rangers.

Infielder Hanser Alberto and outfielder Delino DeShields were recalled from Triple-A Round Rock.

Dodgers pitcher Alex Wood underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow that will keep him out for about eight weeks.