2012 San Jose Earthquakes Player Salaries

You can find all of the 2012 MLS player salaries, organized by team here.

Some, ahem, standouts:

SJ Stephenson Khari M $ 190,000.00 $ 203,333.33
SJ Guvenisik Sercan F $ 90,000.00 $ 103,333.33
SJ Gjertsen Joey M $ 85,000.00 $ 93,625.00

Here's the full list for the Quakes:

Player Base Salary Guaranteed
Alexandre $44,100 $44,100
Ampai $44,000 $44,000
Baca $44,000 $44,000
Beitashour $44,100 $44,100
Bernardez $100,000 $100,000
Bingham $71,000 $115,375
Busch $155,004 $166,337
Chavez $150,000 $150,000
Corrales $173,250 $183,875
Cronin $71,156 $119,156
Dawkins $50,000 $50,000
Garza $75,000 $91,500
Gjertsen $85,000 $93,625
Gordon $110,000 $120,000
Guvenisik $90,000 $103,333
Hernandez $175,000 $175,000
Hustedt $33,756 $33,756
Lenhart $180,000 $187,500
McLoughlin $44,000 $44,000
Moreno $250,000 $270,000
Morrow $44,100 $44,100
Newton $33,756 $33,756
Opara $100,000 $185,900
Pizarro $33,756 $33,756
Ring $44,100 $44,100
Salinas $82,000 $87,975
Stephenson $190,000 $203,333
Suggs $33,756 $33,756
Ward $65,000 $65,000
Wondo $300,000 $300,000

So Wondo got a pretty big bump again this year, and as I suspected, Lenhart was signed to a pretty high salary. Bernardez is cheap, as is Dawkins (although I'm guessing the Quakes paid a loan fee on top of the salary, so the cost to the salary cap is higher than shown). Khari's salary went up more than I expected, and the Quakes must have negotiated Chavez to a new contract as his salary last year was only $50,000. That's probably a good thing, given his performance this year, as hopefully that means the Quakes have Chavez locked up for a couple more years on the current contract.

The new contracts negotiated for Salinas, Gordon and Guvenisik seem reasonable, and the price for Moreno, while high, is about what I would have expected.

Dawkins $50K?

Since he is on loan to us, is that what we have to pay to Spurs to contribute to his actual salary?


We have 3 contributing starters making $44k...wow!

Yes, as I understand it, the $50k is the salary paid to Dawkins. However, the Quakes probably paid an additional loan fee directly to Tottenham that also hits the salary cap, so Dawkins is likely not as cheap as it looks in terms of cost to the team and the cap.

Other than Khari, who is overpaid, I'm not sure what you are trying to point out with these 3 players. Guvenisik at $100k is right on market for #3-#4 forwards in MLS. Look at all of the salaries for forwards, and other than guys who are out of college still on their "Rookie contracts", pretty much everyone makes at least $90-100k. Gjertsen and Khari had their previous contracts renewed, so the salaries were already predetermined. Yes, the Quakes could have decided not to exercise the options, but that decision had to be made in November and then they could have lost the players in the re-entry draft. The problem was that the Quakes had to decide on these guys before they had traded for Salinas and Chavez, before they signed Moreno, before they knew Dawkins was coming back, etc.

Khari is overpaid and if they renew his contract next year it should be a new contract, as I believe this is the last year on his current one. Gjertsen should just be released as soon as he's healthy, as his contract is not guaranteed. But if he's not healthy, according to MLS rules they can't release him.

If you want to be surprised by guys getting overpaid, take a look at what DCU signed Brandon McDonald for. He's making $258,250 - that's unbelievable to me. Now I understand why he signed with them and didn't go to Europe, as he had said he wanted. There's no way he's that good of a defender to be making that kind of money, IMO.

Also, I was very curious to see what Convey signed for with KC - he's making $215k, so he took a big paycut. Of course, he was sure that the Quakes were screwing him when they wanted him to accept a lower salary, but he seemed ok with it from KC.

If you want an overpaid player, though, just look at the Galaxy. Chad Barrett is making $253k!

Oh, for sure. Just pointing out some instances of perhaps not exactly getting value for money. I'm not complaining one bit, since we're doing very well this season regardless, and we're starting three players making the bare minimum ($44k).

And yes, Barrett...yikes! It's a tough call for who is getting the worst value. Toronto? (Marquez at over $4 mil is a joke though.)

Most teams are spending within their means, and if value for money is an indicator of a smart team, than RSL are doing a fantastic job.

Always nice to review other people's salaries. Glad no one is reviewing mine!

Still it's fun to review and discuss:

What a deal!
Baca Rafael 44,000.00$ 44,000.00$
Beitashour Steven 44,100.00$ 44,100.00$
Bernardez Victor 100,000.00$ 100,000.00$
Morrow Justin 44,100.00$ 44,100.00$
Dawkins Simon 50,000.00$ 50,000.00$

Worth Every Penny!
Bingham David 71,000.00$ 115,375.00$
Busch Jon155,004.00$ 166,337.33$
Chavez Marvin150,000.00$ 150,000.00$
Cronin Sam71,156.25$ 119,156.25$
Garza Sam65,000.00$ 91,500.00$
Lenhart Steven 180,000.00$ 187,500.00$
McLoughlin Ellis 44,000.00$ 44,000.00$
Newton Evan 33,756.00$ 33,756.00$
Pizarro Cesar 33,756.00$ 33,756.00$
Ring Brad 44,100.00$ 44,100.00$
Salinas Shea 82,000.00$ 87,975.08$
Wondolowski Chris 300,000.00 $ 300,000.00
Suggs Josh 33,756.00$ 33,756.00$

You owe us!
Guvenisik Sercan 90,000.00$ 103,333.33
Hernandez Jason 175,000.00$ 175,000.00$
Moreno Tressor 250,000.00$ 270,000.00$
Opara Ike 100,000.00$ 185,900.00$
StephensonKhari190,000.00$ 203,333.33$
Ward Tim 65,000.00$ 65,000.00$

We have been robbed!
Gjertsen Joey 85,000.00$ 93,625.00$

In summary, it helps to win. Still, Jason, Tressor, and Khari are not producing per their salaries. Opara is not worth this money at the time. Sercan is still TBD. Tim is on IR, but based on his past performance, he still needs to prove himself. Joey just isn't worth this money.

That number goes a lot further in Kansas/Missouri then it would in San Jose... Probably a raise when you overlook the fact he has to live in that miserable place... (Besides May and November, I hated living there...)

The positive though is an awesome stadium.

Opara is still on his Generation Adidas contract. That means that his contract does not count against the cap (and is still payed by the league, not the team, unlike a DP).

Understood. My comments were in the context of what he is being paid, not the hit to the Quakes. In other threads, there has been discussion around whether he would have to take a pay cut next year or be traded if he doesn't improve this year. Most everyone agrees that he isn't worth the money based upon his current pay. Still, there is plenty of season left. Let's see how it pans out...

Ugh:
Moreno $250,000 $270,000
Stephenson $190,000 $203,333
Hernandez $175,000 $175,000

You have got to be kidding me. If we are needing some salary space, we should start looking here. In no way do the performances by these guys this season justify pay like this. No way.

Bernardez at 100k is a steal.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/st...yrolls-projected-strong-seasons-espn-magazine

Quakes w/ $3,624,063, combined player salaries beats LA w/ $17,229,783 combined salaries...

...at the HDC,

Ah, there's the rub. You were raised there, I moved there just out of high school after being raised in Cupertino...

I can rattle off quite a few things I liked about the place, my dislike (hatred ) was primarily with the weather/climiate.

someone's coming in with a big money offer for Wondo, soon, I fear. $300k is a bargain for a player of his worth and caliber...

...where would we be without him?

He has expressed interest in going to Europe. Not sure at what level club he would land at. As much as I would hate to see him leave, I would love to see him further his career. Having him win the Golden Boot again this year and winning MLS Cup might make it easier to say goodbye after this season, however..

Maybe he'll get a loan offer like Donovan did with Everton, going to play somewhere for a few months over the winter?

His stock has (obviously) gone way up, he's been the best thing that's happened to this franchise since our return. I hope we can pay him what he's worth, and keep him in San Jose, especially since we've not used a DP slot.

He's not going anywhere if he continues to have Kreis syndrom (exceptional club performance, tepid international performance)

I think that it's really Twellman syndrome.

Wondo is kind of old for a striker going over to the pond. Most teams are going to look for younger players to invest time and maximize potential. He could have success in a Norway or Denmark, but I'm not sure in a top league in Europe.

I don't recall the numbers, but I think Kreis was doing much better for Dallas then Twellman was doing for New England, but neither could do much for the US

thats what i was thinking, hes been linked to Denmark before thats what concerns me.

I think we will be able to keep Ike around easily if we dump Ward and Gjersten next year. Stephenson could free up some room as well.

Every team in every sports league in the world has under- and over-paid players. We have relatively few overpaid players and they are not that overpaid all things considered. Two thumbs up to JD and FY.

Well a top league he could make his way.. just not to a top club in said league. He's not going to Porto or Benfica... but Guimarães or Nacional de Madeira might give him a look. Maybe a lower team in any of the first divisions in Europe, with the exception of EPL and possibly Spanish/German leagues. I think he could make it at a lower club anywhere else though. Somehow, this sounds disrespectful...