While the number of MLS players making more than $1 million a year in guaranteed compensation has increased by a third from 21 to 28 players in two years, there has been a noticeable increase in the
number of players making above the league maximum and below $1 million -- from 24 to 58 players -- since Targeted Allocation Money spending was injected.
MLS Maximums: 2015 Cap: $436,250
2017 Cap: $480,625
Each club is allowed three Designated Players -- players making about the
maximum of $480,625 in total compensation and acquisition costs in 2017.
Targeted Allocation Money was introduced in 2015 to allow teams to sign additional players making above the
maximum but less than $1 million and use TAM to "buy down" their total compensation and acquisition costs.
In addition to players making above the DP maximum, per MLS Players Union
guaranteed compensation figures released on Tuesday, MLS identities 20 players as being TAM players. Most but not all would have had acquisition costs bought down in order to get them under
maximum.
Chicago and Portland have seven players each making above the league maximum. Of the 86 players making above the league maximum, 25 entered or re-entered MLS in 2017. Just 23 are
eligible for the U.S. national team.
MLS Players Over Cap: 7
Chicago (4 in 2015): Accam, *De Leeuw, *Juninho, *Kappelhof, *McCarty,
Nikolic,
Schweinsteiger. 7 Portland (3 in
2015): Adi,
Blanco, *Chara, Melano, *Nagbe, *Ridgewell, Valeri.
6 Sporting KC (3 in 2015): *Besler, *Dwyer,
Espinoza, *Feilhaber,
Gerso, Zusi.
(*Diego Rubio.)
5 Atlanta United (- in 2015): Almiron,
*Carmona,
Martinez, *McCann,
Villalba.
(*Gonzalez Pirez.) 5 LA Galaxy (4 in 2015): Alessandrini, dos Santos,
*J.Jones, Van Damme, *Zardes.
(
*Pedro.)
5 New England (2 in 2015): Agudelo,
*Angoua, K.Kamara, Kouassi,
*Nguyen.
(
*Delamea.)
5 Philadelphia (1 in 2015): Bedoya, Edu, *Ilsinho,
*Medunjanin,
*Simpson.
(*Alberg.)
5 San Jose (2 in 2015): Dawkins,
*Hoesen, *Hyka, *Jungwirth, Wondolowski.
4 Columbus (2 in 2015): Higuain,
Mensah, *O.Kamara, *Sauro.
(*Meram, *Trapp.)
4 New York City FC
(4 in 2015): Diskerud,
Moralez, Pirlo, Villa.
(*Brillant, *Chanot, *Ring.)
4 Orlando City (3 in 2015): Barnes,
Kaka, *Nocerino,
*Spector.
4 Seattle (3 in 2015): Alonso, Dempsey, Lodeiro, *Torres.
4 Toronto FC (4 in 2015): Altidore, Bradley, Giovinco,
*Vasquez.
(*Cooper.)
4 Vancouver (2 in
2015): Laba,
Montero, *Reyna, Shea.
(*Bolanos, *Techera.)
3 Colorado (1 in 2015): Doyle, Gashi, Howard.
(
*Boateng.)
3 FC Dallas (1 in 2015): Diaz, Gruezo, *
Lamah.
3 Real
Salt Lake (1 in 2015): *Beckerman, Movsisyan,
Rusnak. 2 D.C. United (1 in 2015): *Acosta, *Birnbaum.
2 Montreal (0 in 2015): Ciman, *Mancosu.
2 NY Red Bulls (2 in 2015):
Kljestan, Wright-Phillips.
(*Royer.)
1 Houston (2 in 2015): Torres.
(
*Cabezas, *Manotas,
*Quioto.)
1 Minnesota United (- in 2015): *Demidov.
(
*Calvo, *Schuller).
Notes: *Players (re-)signed with
TAM.
Players in
bold (re-)entered MLS in 2017.
Players in parentheses are "TAM players" making less than maximum.
TAM has been huge in terms of attracting and keeping good players in or before their prime.