Note and Comments from the 2008 MLS Salary lists
League Minimum and the Poverty level
I have heard a number of times how the players on developmental contracts are getting paid below the poverty level, this actually is wrong. The lowest paid players in MLS are making $12,900 and the poverty level is $10,400 according to the HHS, but let’s all be honest no one can live off of $12,900 a year. Many clubs help those players find part time jobs, often in coaching at youth levels, and very often the younger players will share expenses by living together, I believe that when the player’s union renews their contract with the league that this amount needs to almost double. I recommend a $25,000 salary for developmental players, this will allow them to come much closer to a living wage, and allow them to be above the poverty level for a family of 3. Currently 45 players in MLS make the $12,900, and just above that level are 30 players making $17,700 a year. This rate covers some players that have already made a big impact for their teams in the first week of play, like Adam Moffat of Columbus, and Sainey Nyassi of New England. RSL has 5 players at these two low pay level, including Kyle Reynish and Dustin Kirby, who both make the $17,700 per year.
No justice in the pay world of MLS
So in 2008 base salaries of all players is just over $36,000,000, which covers 333 players for an average of just over $117,000 a year. The shame is that only 85 players in the league make that much money each year and the top 10 players make just under $15 million a year, with Golden Balls, Blanco, Gallardo, Angel, Renya all making over 1 million dollars a year, landycakes just misses the million dollar level and makes $900,000 a year. The drop off is quick because the next player on the list make only $425,000 a year. RSL’s highest paid player is Javier Morales at $240,000 a year. Golden Balls makes more than the lowest paid 181 players in MLS combined ($5,498,736vs. 5,500,000), the injustice of one player making more than that many players, is simply wrong. You will never get a balanced league without spending the money to allow for it, even with the glaring favoritism shown to the LA Galaxy 10 players over $75,000 and a team salary of just under 8 million and total compensation of over 9 million has not resulted in a sure winner on the pitch, their performance against Colorado a team with 2.4 million in salaries and 2.6 million in total compensation was proof of that. The future of MLS will have to include either more DP slots or a much larger salary cap, to allow teams to put a higher quality team on the pitch, I know there have been good reasons for the current salary cap, but as more teams control their own stadiums, and are starting to negotiate jersey deals with sponsors, and as the future TV rights and league naming rights should generate more revenue for teams, that money needs to go into putting a better quality product out for fans.
Steals at twice the price
There are a number of players that are absolute steals in this league, here are just a couple that caught my eye: Bouna Coundoul at $33,000 a year, Stuart Holden at $33,075 a year, Dax McCarty at $45,500 a year, and even though he is a rookie New England’s Sainey Nyassi at $17,700 already has 2 goals in his first 3 matches. I am sure as the year progresses I will find more bargain basement steals, but 2 ½ weeks in these are the guys catching my attention.
What do you say about the pay of MLS players
So here is a copy of the released salaries of players, take a look and voice your opinion on what you thing
OFF MY SOAPBOX
This entry was posted on April 9, 2008 at 10:15 pm and is filed under MLS News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.