It probably is true, at least compared with the big spending teams. They have lots of cheap players to offset the few big cap hits. The Crew tend to have a lot of mid priced players. It's why our reserve team was decent and why we get picked over in each expansion draft.
2014 Columbus Crew: Screw you NYFC and Orlando City, We don't have anyone you would want in the Expansion Draft.
If you can whip that into a nice-looking bumper sticker, I think you've nailed part of the prize package the Crew Action Team will personally deliver to your seat for using the hash tag "Crew96RuleEveryoneLOL" during the first two minutes of the home opener. Winner, winner...