MLS Development Players Get a Raise...
Ever since the first MLS salary list was leaked, fans of soccer in America have not been able to pick their collective jaw up off the ground. The statement I often get from non-MLS fans is, "I hear these guys make peanuts." Unfortunately, that is not going to change in 2007. On one side of the spectrum designated players are signed, making over $400,000/year and on the other side there are the grunts of the league, trying to make their passion their profession, earning $12,900 in 2007 (according to Steven Goff of the Washington Post.)
First, we'll look on the bright side. That is a 10.3% raise over the 2006 developmental player salary. Earning a 10% raise is a good feeling and I know a lot of people out there working in corporate jobs don't earn those every year.
Now we'll look on the dark side...they are barely making more than the US Poverty level for single person households ($9,800 in 2006 according to the Federal Register.)
Who earns the developmental salary in MLS? Anyone who doesn't make the senior roster of a team but does stick around on the developmental roster to play in reserve matches and occasional senior games. That will include many of our friends in the recent SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft. In 2006 that list included Chicago's Dasan Robinson who played in 23 games while earning the paltry developmental salary. Daniel Wasson earned the developmental salary while winning the reserve division championship with the Rapids. In all, there were 47 developmental salaries paid by MLS in 2006. That is 15% of the players in MLS. 9% of the players in the league earned $16,500, the next step up the salary ladder. Overall 24% of the players in the league are making under $20,000 per year.
I guess we can see why some young Americans are turning to the greener pastures of Europe and other foreign leagues. However, I don't want to imply that Preston Zimmerman, Kamani Hill, Neven Subotic or Charlie Davies would have automatically been earning the base MLS salary. We know from published reports that Davies was offered a salary comparable to the $175,000/year he is earning with Swedish club Hammarby IF. If you look at some of the young American stars who did sign with MLS you'll see that the top talent is earning a solid payday. For example: Josmer Altidore was paid a 2006 guaranteed salary of $98,333, Marvell Wynne $150,000, Nikolas Besagno $96,500, Tim Ward $44,125, Ramon Nunez $93,000, Patrick Ianni $78,000 and Jacob Peterson $63,750.
The average MLS guaranteed salary in 2006 was $85,329. 31% of the league earned more than the average guaranteed salary (remember average and median are not the same.)
I am conflicted on the news that the developmental players will only be getting a 10% raise this season. On the one hand I want more and more American players to be able to make a living kicking a ball into a goal. On the other, not all of the developmental players are good enough to be playing in MLS and the league needs to continue encouraging the best to get better and the worst to consider a new career. We don't want MLS to be a graveyard for young talentless players the same as we don't want it to be a bone yard for old Euro has-beens. I take comfort knowing that MLS is working on signing the top talent. They won't get them all but as the league grows and prospers we'll continue to get more. I also feel better knowing that when a team finds a gem on the developmental roster they sign them to a bigger contract (i.e. word is that Daniel Wasson will graduate to the Rapids' senior roster this year earning a substantial raise.)
In the long term I want MLS to get to a point where the lowest salary is a living wage for a professional athlete and the league is getting the best of the best to sign so that they don't need to worry about supporting a player not good enough to cut it. We're not there yet, but as the league grows I know we'll get there.
Good news for those poverty-striken developmental players. Looks like their salaries will be $12,900 this season, a $1,200 increase.
First, we'll look on the bright side. That is a 10.3% raise over the 2006 developmental player salary. Earning a 10% raise is a good feeling and I know a lot of people out there working in corporate jobs don't earn those every year.
Now we'll look on the dark side...they are barely making more than the US Poverty level for single person households ($9,800 in 2006 according to the Federal Register.)
Who earns the developmental salary in MLS? Anyone who doesn't make the senior roster of a team but does stick around on the developmental roster to play in reserve matches and occasional senior games. That will include many of our friends in the recent SuperDraft and Supplemental Draft. In 2006 that list included Chicago's Dasan Robinson who played in 23 games while earning the paltry developmental salary. Daniel Wasson earned the developmental salary while winning the reserve division championship with the Rapids. In all, there were 47 developmental salaries paid by MLS in 2006. That is 15% of the players in MLS. 9% of the players in the league earned $16,500, the next step up the salary ladder. Overall 24% of the players in the league are making under $20,000 per year.
I guess we can see why some young Americans are turning to the greener pastures of Europe and other foreign leagues. However, I don't want to imply that Preston Zimmerman, Kamani Hill, Neven Subotic or Charlie Davies would have automatically been earning the base MLS salary. We know from published reports that Davies was offered a salary comparable to the $175,000/year he is earning with Swedish club Hammarby IF. If you look at some of the young American stars who did sign with MLS you'll see that the top talent is earning a solid payday. For example: Josmer Altidore was paid a 2006 guaranteed salary of $98,333, Marvell Wynne $150,000, Nikolas Besagno $96,500, Tim Ward $44,125, Ramon Nunez $93,000, Patrick Ianni $78,000 and Jacob Peterson $63,750.
The average MLS guaranteed salary in 2006 was $85,329. 31% of the league earned more than the average guaranteed salary (remember average and median are not the same.)
I am conflicted on the news that the developmental players will only be getting a 10% raise this season. On the one hand I want more and more American players to be able to make a living kicking a ball into a goal. On the other, not all of the developmental players are good enough to be playing in MLS and the league needs to continue encouraging the best to get better and the worst to consider a new career. We don't want MLS to be a graveyard for young talentless players the same as we don't want it to be a bone yard for old Euro has-beens. I take comfort knowing that MLS is working on signing the top talent. They won't get them all but as the league grows and prospers we'll continue to get more. I also feel better knowing that when a team finds a gem on the developmental roster they sign them to a bigger contract (i.e. word is that Daniel Wasson will graduate to the Rapids' senior roster this year earning a substantial raise.)
In the long term I want MLS to get to a point where the lowest salary is a living wage for a professional athlete and the league is getting the best of the best to sign so that they don't need to worry about supporting a player not good enough to cut it. We're not there yet, but as the league grows I know we'll get there.
posted by Bonji at
8:11 AM
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