Originally Posted by ag futbol
Or outright released. He is in an option year, all they had to do was not pick up the option and low and behold we have all that capspace available. They didn't do that. So TFC is telling us is that they believe he is worth at least that much in capspace, so it is not a stretch then to think that given they are willing to use up that much capspace on him now, they may look at an option that reduces his cap impact as well.
Or, think they can get something out of DeRo trade from some other team, instead of getting nothing by just releasing him.
Then again, weird trades happen in this league all the time, like, star players get traded for peanuts, just to reduce cap space
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I was just thinking the same thing. "Trade value" of players can be pretty wacky in Major League Soccer. Good players seem to get traded for peanuts, released, or simply not offered new contracts all the time. Look at some of the players that have fallen into TFC's lap for seemingly nothing - some small amount of allocation, late draft picks (worthless in this league), no name players, or for simply nothing.
Conventional wisdom would dictate that DeRo has pretty good trade value, but MLS roster moves seem to violate the rules of conventional wisdom for pro sports all the time. The tight salary cap seems to drive teams to madness.
- Scott
“Heroism breaks its heart, and idealism its back, on the intransigence of the credulous and the mediocre, manipulated by the cynical and the corrupt.” ~Christopher Hitchens
Agreed.
If DeRo got himself out of a contract "negotiation" in which he desired more money and was traded to Toronto for James and allocation money, what makes us think that an older DeRo who is in another contract "negotiation" in which he desires more money, is going to have a trade value HIGHER than James + allocation money?
Let's discuss that "cap impact" statement.
Only the "base salary" counts against the cap and there are "official statements" out there (on the Timbers website for one) explaining that the maximum base salary and cap hit for any player, including DPs is $335k.
Since DeRo makes a base of $375k, we can only assume that allocation money is being used to "pay down his cap hit."
While deciphering MLS salary cap information is like trying to understand women, if you go on the knowledge that only the base salary counts against the cap and $335k is the max, there isn't a big advantage on the savings front.
Last edited by Pookie; 01-23-2011 at 08:58 AM.
Am I mistaken but does not his current salary have a cap hit of 435k or somewhere thereabouts? If so, the cap savings would be 100k. In MLS, that is quite a bit of space. Now if you're right and the current cap hit is 375k then the savings would be less but there would still be savings.
Yes, this is where it gets interesting.
I found a few references on the subject:
"Salaries are broken into two categories. The base salary is just that, a base salary that counts toward the salary cap. The second includes all signing and guaranteed bonuses divided over the term of the contract."
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_n19062003/
"The total base salary for the year is the figure used to determine the salary cap amount for each team. "
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chic...#ixzz1BscVv43g
"The Fire's total "guaranteed compensation" for 2010 is $2,890,293.00 although the base salary number is the figure used when determining the total cap dollars used."
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/chic...#ixzz1BsdAj4ER
... and if Portland's website is any indication the "minimum salary a senior player can be paid will be $42,000 in 2011, with a maximum salary of $335,000. However, clubs may sign a player for over the league maximum through the use of the Designated Player Rule"
http://www.portlandmls2011.com/news/...aproster-rules
... we could theorize that since DeRo is not a DP and is earning $375k as a base, this is as a result of allocation money. Further, we could speculate that his current cap hit is already at the DP/League maximum of $335k per the above. Clear as mud?
That said, the league doesn't disclose the cap rules and hits like the NHL does. There are a number of factors that could come into play but if we accept the basic premise that the base number is the driving number and bonuses are not factored into the cap (performance, signing, etc.), the cap savings idea becomes really murky.
However, it could lead to creativity in restructuring a contract. Something a higher revenue club like TFC could use to their competitive advantage. Guess that's Mariner's challenge and why knowing the inner workings of the cap was a very important piece of the rebuilding puzzle.
Last edited by Pookie; 01-23-2011 at 12:34 PM.
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