Developmental players making $8 an hour

Discussion in 'MLS: Youth & Development' started by JerseyTexan, Sep 5, 2007.

  1. JerseyTexan

    JerseyTexan New Member

    Jul 26, 2006
    10036
  2. texgator

    texgator New Member

    Oct 28, 2003
    Plano
    So there's nothing illegal going on? Good. Controversy over. Phew....I was scared that MLS was engaged in an unfair business practice there for a second.
     
  3. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I read that article earlier today. If anyone's curious why so many MLS teams have such a lack of depth, or undependable benches, look no further.

    IMO, the absolute minimum any MLS player, developing or veteran, should make is $75,000 a year. Or at least that should be the goal in the next 5 years. And before anyone tries to put that "oh, MLS teams don't have enough money for that" stunt, remember the fact that between Angel, Reyna, Beckham, and Blanco (that's just four players), they have $37 MILLION in guaranteed contract money between them. Two of those four have been injured more than they've been on the field since joining an MLS team. We don't even know Denilson's contract number yet, but that's probably another million at least right there.

    So yeah, make it happen before the depth falls out completely
     
  4. denver_mugwamp

    denver_mugwamp New Member

    Feb 9, 2003
    Denver, Colorado
    This has been discussed to death. The MLS system is not much different than what baseball players endure in the lower minor leagues or what hockey players have to put up with playing junior hockey in Canada. And how much do amateur gridiron foorball players make while in college, playing before crowds of up to 100k? But isn't it strange that there's still people competing for these low-paying jobs in every sport?
     
  5. Mark_RFC

    Mark_RFC New Member

    Jun 27, 2007
    Reading, England
    lower than the minimum wage in England when converted to pounds
     
  6. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    But that's AMATEUR sports. The developmental players in MLS are playing IN MLS GAMES, not college or minor-league teams. Unless if the arguement's made that MLS is minor league, which we know isn't the case because minor league teams are usually incapable of signing a player for over a million bucks a year...
     
  7. Sandon Mibut

    Sandon Mibut Member+

    Feb 13, 2001
    I've said it before and I'll say it again - as long as the players keep signing for the low developmental wages, MLS has no incentive to raise them.

    When they can't sign most of their desired players coming out of college, things will change. Till then, MLS will deal with losing the likes of Greg Dalby, Jay Needham and Ryan Guy content in the knowlege there is a long line of players dying to take the low wages in their place.

    It will take some Norma Rae-esque player at the combine, and some agents with the stones to take on the league, to organize the top seniors not to sign and then for all the seniors to stick together (and that will be the tough part), for changes to come.

    If all the seniors at the combine refuse to sign - AND STICK WITH IT - then changes might happen. But, I just don't see the seniors being willing to risk alienating the league over this nor do I see them trusting that the OTHER seniors won't break so I don't see it happening.
     
  8. texgator

    texgator New Member

    Oct 28, 2003
    Plano
    The reserve rosters in MLS are designed to be what the minor league systems in other pro sports are for.

    Here's the deal, you can pay them a $50k salary, but then we'll have to cut 5 roster spots per team. You think the MLSPA makes that deal?
     
  9. texgator

    texgator New Member

    Oct 28, 2003
    Plano
    Exactly, it's simple Labor Supply and Demand. For every MLS prospect that turns up his hand at a Dev deal there are two dozen waiting behind him for the chance to live out a dream and delay getting a real job for a few years.
     
  10. LeeS

    LeeS Member

    Mar 23, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I really don't see what the big deal is. First of all, the MLSPA agreed to this, so they don't have much room for complaining. Secondly, we're talking about DEVELOPMENT players, ie, fringe players who are expected to contribute much while under a dev contract.

    The only thing I would change is that these players get a hefty bonus for actually appearing in MLS A squad games. So that if they are good enough, they will get their money.

    Lee
     
  11. DoctorD

    DoctorD Member+

    Sep 29, 2002
    MidAtlantic
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Funding should go towards youth development programs, not paying 22-year-old hopefuls a higher wage.
     
  12. Via_Chicago

    Via_Chicago Member

    Apr 1, 2004
    Bay Area, California
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    The biggest problem with MLS development isn't the salaries but the reserve league itself. It sucks. Period.

    That said, it'd be nice if some of these kids got a minimal raise, say, if they were making $25k or so in guaranteed salary instead of sub $20k. Still, it is what it is.
     
  13. flippin269

    flippin269 Member+

    Aug 3, 2003
    Houston
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Good post. I think MLS will only tolerate losing players like the ones you mentioned for so long until they said "we need to do something to assure that losing a starter doesn't assure losing the match", especially when MLS teams are playing international competition more often, and are increasing their desire to beat them for street cred, tournament money, and qualfications.

    Also, I can't see the developmental players standing up like that until towards end of the current MLSPA contract when they could negotiate for higher wages and use a strike threat (god forbid) as an incentive
     
  14. LeeS

    LeeS Member

    Mar 23, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    What sucks? The play? The structure? The idea?

    How would you change it so that is no longer "sucked"?

    Lee
     
  15. texgator

    texgator New Member

    Oct 28, 2003
    Plano
    I've recommended an "escalator" clause, where the Dev player's salary automatically goes to Sr Roster minimum after X number of minutes played with the first team in official competition. At that time, he would have to be graduated to the SR Roster, which would probably mean another player gets dropped down, or cut.
     
  16. LeeS

    LeeS Member

    Mar 23, 2002
    San Francisco, CA
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Yes, something along those lines. A guarantee that if a player contributes, he is fairly compensated like a real player.

    I wouldn't want MLS teams using dev players as a way to keep costs down by having them play a bunch of minutes without getting a fair share.

    lee
     
  17. texgator

    texgator New Member

    Oct 28, 2003
    Plano
    Yes, this, IMO, is the only issue of fairness regarding the Dev roster. And, as another poster pointed out in a different thread, it currently only pertains to about 4 players, leaguewide, that are making less than the Sr Roster Minimum and who are getting regular first team minutes. One of whom, Dominic Oduro, just had his contract redone so he comes off that list. It's really more rare than people think. The vast majority of guys making less than $20k a year just aren't contributing.
     
  18. DoctorD

    DoctorD Member+

    Sep 29, 2002
    MidAtlantic
    Club:
    Philadelphia Union
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You're from Berkeley. Hope you're a student, because in the real world, nothing will change until the next CBA. It is in the best interests of both the employer and the employee to work up a contract and stick to it until it expires. Neither side will or should voluntarily change things until then. Predictability is a virtue.

    BTW, since this topic comes up every few months and gets people riled up about an apparent "injustice", what are the union dues for those developmental players?
     
  19. superdave

    superdave Member+

    Jul 14, 1999
    VB, VA
    Club:
    DC United
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Most starters in The Championship make more money than most young reserve players in the Prem. Is the Prem "not very major league" too?
     
  20. Jonny Bishop

    Jonny Bishop Member

    Sep 18, 2004
    Tacoma
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I'm not surprised that there are differing viewpoints on this, I am surprised by how dismissive some people are of the question itself.

    Dr. D, if you follow professional sports you know that contracts are re-negotiated constantly. It's established practice and often in the best interests of both employer and employee. I'm amazed you can accuse this poster of naive adherence to some abstract concept of fairness while blithely ignoring reality yourself.

    Finally, it seems to me that fans of this league agree that they would like to see the best soccer possible. If we're losing higher quality players/better prospects over wage issues it seems like it would warrant a bit of cost-benefit analysis. Whether losing the likes of Needham and others outweighs the extra $10,000-15,000 it would take to get them into the league is not easy to determine, and in the end it's dynamic.

    However, if MLS prospects are being openly told by both the Union and by individual players, team leaders judging from the quotes from Jay in this article , that they should turn down developmental contracts... it just seems clear to me that all is not well.

    Debating the solution is valid, dismissing the concern myopic.
     
  21. maturin

    maturin Member

    Jun 8, 2004
    The problem is not the fact that developmental players are making so little money. The real problem is that developmental salaries are not prorated. It's not a good thing when a developmental player gets called up to the first team, but continues to make $8 an hour while sitting on the bench or maybe even playing in a real MLS game. There should be an automatic and instant raise when a guy gets promoted, even if it's only for a game or two.
     
  22. frkrbt

    frkrbt New Member

    Aug 16, 2007
    Just because it's not illegal doesn't make it a fair business practice.
     
  23. texgator

    texgator New Member

    Oct 28, 2003
    Plano
    Just because there's a newspaper article doesn't make it an unfair business practice.


    Remind me who it was, exactly, that forced these players, against their will, to sign these contracts??
     
  24. Jonny Bishop

    Jonny Bishop Member

    Sep 18, 2004
    Tacoma
    Club:
    Seattle Sounders
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    In the end, the question of whether or not it's a fair business practice takes a back seat to the question of whether or not it's a sound business practice. The article in question raises valid concerns that it is not.
     
  25. dredgfan

    dredgfan Member+

    MLS
    Nov 5, 2004
    Denver or NOLA
    Club:
    Colorado Rapids
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Um fellas? It's roughly averaged to $8 an hour if they work a 40+ work week. They don't.
     

Share This Page