Crew 2022 to '23 Off-season Roster Thread

Minnman · Jan 18, 2023

TRUJDUB21 said: ↑

Better

Better than the Molino deal

Depends on the salary but 2 years seems reasonable if we didn’t overpay . You would like 1 yr with option for 2nd but then he would probably want more money .

I wonder Nancy expectations

if we start 2 strikers he will definitely battle JRR for a starting spot
Click to expand...

I certainly hope that JRR would challenge Ramirez for a Starting XI spot, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if that's not the case. JRR has played all of 227 minutes of first team soccer, with one shot on target and no goals. Maybe he makes the leap to MLS starter in 2023, but to say the jury is still out on the kid would be an understatement. Look no further than Miguel Berry. One year ago, he was coming off a 2021 season that saw him score 8 goals and 2 assists in 840 minutes. Last year? 2 goals and zero assists in 1800 minutes. At this rate he'll be plying his trade in USL soon unless he turns it around.

Bill Archer · Jan 18, 2023

Cucho Hernandez called into Colombia for US friendly on Jan 28.

kgilbert78 · Jan 18, 2023

Saw this in my stamp mag.... An Armenian World Cup Stamp--and I think that's Zelarayan in the middle.

WhiteHartShame · Jan 19, 2023

catfish9 said: ↑

You must make a sign thanking their manager for not playing him so we could have him and see if you can get it on TV.
Click to expand...

Did not have time to do that...but every single Abeedeen supporter I met at the pub and in the away section at Tynecastle sarcastically thanked me for removing Ramirez from AFC. Then I watched as they were obliterated by Hearts 5-0 ! Seemed to me they could have used him last night.

Crew96Fan · Jan 19, 2023

Official.

https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/c...stian-ramirez-from-scottish-premiership-side-

Crew Chuck35 · Jan 19, 2023

Whoop Eee
We need a defense.

Minnman · Jan 19, 2023

Crew96Fan said: ↑

Official.

https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/c...stian-ramirez-from-scottish-premiership-side-
Click to expand...

No mention of TAM being used, which of course means little, since MLS is so closed mouth about these processes. Still, when Mokhtar was signed, for example, the announcement noted that TAM was used, meaning that he was signed to a salary above the DP threshold. I'd hope that Ramirez would not be getting paid that much, but we really won't know until the MLSPA releases 2023 salaries. I assume, too, that any transfer fee here was marginal. We may have had to burn a little GAM to keep his total averaged salary and fee number below the DP level, but probably not that much.

FWIW, he was making about $1m a year in Houston, who received a $250K fee for him from Aberdeen.

west ham sandwich · Jan 19, 2023

Looks like he was last at ~750,000 USD in Scotland. His value has only gone down since he signed there. I highly doubt TAM was needed

Minnman · Jan 19, 2023

I was going to write this long, boring post about MLS roster rules and the approved use of GAM/TAM for both buying down salaries and acquiring players above the DP threshold who don't count as DPs. Be thankful I resisted the urge.

The short version of this is that, maybe Nagbe's option year salary is below $1,651,250, meaning we could use $1M in TAM to buy down his salary to below DP level and at the same time sign a new DP at whatever amount we want to (we're required to sign a new DP if we use TAM in this way).

But even if that's not the case (i.e., if his salary is too high), we can use that same $1M of TAM to sign a player whose total salary and acquisition costs don't exceed $1.651M and he'd not count as a DP. That's not quite as flashy as another multi-million dollar transfer fee acquisition, but it sure as hell could be someone far better than your average MLS journeyman. This largely means finding a player who's either out of contract or, for some reason, acquirable for a modest fee. Zlatan was a TAM player (hard as that is to believe). But even at a lesser level, a $1M+ salary player added to this team via the simple use of TAM is very, very achievable, no complicated DP machinations required.

Jaybir · Jan 19, 2023

WhiteHartShame said: ↑

"sarcastically thanked me for removing Ramirez from AFC." .
Click to expand...

Sorry, trying to make sure I am tracking correctly. So the fans were glad to see him go? Ugh. Or, sarcastically, meaning they hate to see him go? Thanks is advance. Cool trip and timing!

TrueCrew · Jan 19, 2023

Minnman said: ↑

I was going to write this long, boring post about MLS roster rules and the approved use of GAM/TAM for both buying down salaries and acquiring players above the DP threshold who don't count as DPs. Be thankful I resisted the urge.

The short version of this is that, maybe Nagbe's option year salary is below $1,651,250, meaning we could use $1M in TAM to buy down his salary to below DP level and at the same time sign a new DP at whatever amount we want to (we're required to sign a new DP if we use TAM in this way).

But even if that's not the case (i.e., if his salary is too high), we can use that same $1M of TAM to sign a player whose total salary and acquisition costs don't exceed $1.651M and he'd not count as a DP. That's not quite as flashy as another multi-million dollar transfer fee acquisition, but it sure as hell could be someone far better than your average MLS journeyman. This largely means finding a player who's either out of contract or, for some reason, acquirable for a modest fee. Zlatan was a TAM player (hard as that is to believe). But even at a lesser level, a $1M+ salary player added to this team via the simple use of TAM is very, very achievable, no complicated DP machinations required.
Click to expand...

I think an acquisition like this is more likely in the summer. MLS salary would be pro-rated for half a season. Then next year they could be a full DP.

TrueCrew · Jan 19, 2023

As others have already pisted, Ramirez official. Signed thrylu '24 with an option for '25.

With this signing, we now have 25 players signed. 14 Senior + 2 vet min + 9 Supplemental.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/chri...us-crew-sign-striker-from-scotland-s-aberdeen

As always, feel free to point out my screw ups.

I. Senior Roster (1-20). 15 of 20.

Salary Cap = $4,900,000. Don't have to use spots 19, 20. Min Budget charged imputed to cap if use less than 18. Max budget charge is $612,500. If there is only one number, the player has the same value for Base and Guaranteed money.

Rank, Player, Pos, Age, DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$
1. Zelarayan, M, 30, 6/20/92, 5'8", 154, Argentina/Armenia, DP, INT#1, $3.1 mil/$3.7 mil. Thru '24, '25 O.
2. Hernandez (Cucho), CF, 23, 4/20/99, 5'9', 161. Colombia, YDP, INT#2, $2.6 mil/$2,886,000. Thru '25.
3. Nagbe, CM, 32, 7/19/90, 5'9", 165, USA/Liberia, DP, $1,760,000/ditto.
4. Mensah, D, 32, 7/13/90, 6'2", 183, Ghana, GC: $1,000,000/$1,140,667
5. Room, GK, 33, 2/6/89, 6'3", 179, Curacao/NED, INT#3, $800k/$883k ('24 O).
6. Degenek, D, 28, 4/28/94, 6'1", 182, Australia/Croatia, INT#4, $715k/$812k. Th '23, O '25
7. Molino, M, 32, 6/17/90, 5'11", 145, Trinidad & Tobago, GC, $700,348/ditto.
8. Yeboah, M, 25, 3/28/97, 5'9", Ghana, INT#5, $600k/$663,000. Th '24, O '25. (MLS U22?)
9. Moreira, D, 28, 8/13/94, 5'10", 159, France, INT#6, $550k/$632,708.
10. Matan, M, 23, 8/29/99, 5'5", 135, Romania, INT#7, U22, $425k/$458,250.
11. Diaz, M, 24, 12/6/98, 5'11", 159, Costa Rica, INT#8, $375k/$408,900.
12. Williams, D, 34, 4/18/88, 6'2", 185, USA: $325k/$325k
13. Medranda, LB, 28, 2/7/94, 5'5", 152, Colombia/USA, $???/$???, O in '24.
14. Ramirez, F, 31, 4/4/91, 6'2", 187, USA, $???/$???, thru '24, '25 O.
15. Bush, GK, 36, 3/6/86, 6'1", 187, USA, $84k/$84k, (thru '23).
16. Open
17. Open
18. Open
---------------------------
19. Open
20. Open (Scott)
-----------------------
MLS/Crew.com both list Scott and not Bush as a Senior Roster player. Both are senior min players ($84k) and any could be either Senior or Supplemental 21-24. I put Bush Senior because he's above him in the pecking order.

Also, MLS lists Farsi as a Senior player. But his listed salary ($65.5k) is below Senior Min. Accordingly, I have him down further.
--------------------

II. Supplemental Roster (21-30) (10 of 10)

Do not count towards salary cap. Max of 10 players, subject to Season Ending Injured List, Injured List, and Loan Exceptions. All Generation adidas players are Supplemental for their initial contract.

A. Spots 21-24. (Supplemental). 4 of 4.

Must earn at least the Senior Min salary of $84,000. Can be: a) Senior Min players, b) Generation Adidas players, c) designated Super draft eligible players, or d) HGs/HGs earning more than the Sen Min subject to HG Player Subsidy (up to $125 k more than Senior Min salary of $84k).

Rank, Player, Pos, Age, DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$

21. Scott, GK, 23, 6/30/99, 6'2", 174, USA, $84k/$84k. Th '22, O '23, '24.
22. Schulte, GK, 21, 3/13/01, 6'5", 200, USA, GA, $84k/$96,431
23. A. Morris, M, 21, 11/16/01, 5'10", 158, USA, HG, $170k/$172k.
24. Sands, D/M, 22, 7/6/00, 5'10",150, USA, HG, $84k/$90,250. Th '22. O '23 & '24.
-----------------------
Schulte was both Super draft eligible and GA. Scott is a vet min guy who could be Senior but I put him here as long as we have room. Makes no sense to use a Senior spot if we don't have to. If Arfstad lands a first team contract, it would probably be here, though it could be Senior.

I put A. Morris up here for now, though based on his HG status, he could be lower. Why? Well, the six other guys who fill the remainder of the roster are all either HGs who make less (Sands, Russell-Rowe, Zawadzki, Parente, Hughes) on non-GAs who are under $84k minimum Supp salary (Farsi).
-----------------------------

B. Slots 25-28. (Reserve). 4 of 4.

Must make at least the Reserve Min salary of $65,500. Can be: a) Reserve Min Players (24 or younger during league year), b) Homegrown Players earning more than Reserve Min subject to HG Player subsidy, or C) GA players earning the Res Min Salary.

Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$

25. Russell-Rowe, CF, 20, 9/13/02, 6'0", 161, Canada, HG, $65,500/$72,866. Tr '24, O '25-'6.
26. Farsi, D/M, 23, 12/16/99, 5'10", Canada, INT#10, $65,500/$75,333, Th '23, O '24, '25.
27. Zawadzki, M, 22, 4/21/00, 6'0", 160, USA, HG, $84k/$89k. Th '23/O '24, '25.
28. J. Morris, D/M, 23, 3/3/99, 6'1/", 161, USA, HG?, $65,500/$65,500. Th '23, O '24, '25.
------------------------
JRR counts as a domestic player, like Fraser did, via HG rule, even though he is Canadian. MLS/Crew list him as a 21-24 guy, but I think this is wrong, his salary, like Farsi's, is too low to be a spot 21-24 guy.

Some media repoted J. Moreis as a HG 'priority' when we got him. But if MLS are correct & J. Morris is NOT a HG, he has to be 25-28 due to his salary/non-HG status.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-crew-acquire-jake-morris-in-trade-with-seattle-sounders
----------------------------------

C. Slots 29-30. (Homegrown Reserve).

Must be filled with HGs earning the Reserve Min salary or HGs earning more than the Reserve Min ($65,500) subject to HG Player Subsidy.

Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$

29. Parente, M, 22, 3/16/00, 5'9", USA, HG, $66,724/$70,724.
30. Hughes, D, 22, 7/22/00, 6'3", 190, USA, HG, $???/$???, Thr '24, O thr '26.
---------------
I put our 2 HGs who seem to be lowest on the totem pole here. Though for all intents & purposes, A. Morris, Sands, JRR, Zawadzki, Parente, and Hughes are interchangeable.
-------

III. Draftees (3)

1. Rd 1, #14: Maximilian Arfstan, F/W, 21, 4/19/01, 6'1", 172, USA, Earthquakes II (UC Davis).
2. Rd 1, #27: Xavier Zengue, CB, 21, 3/21/01, 6'0", USA, Dayton
3. Rd 2, #43: Clay Holstad, M, 6'2", 160, USA, Kentucky.

Wray's thoughts via Yahoo! summed up:

1) They think Arfstan will compete for a first team spot. Will see in training camp.

2) Others were focused on high upside guys who can develop at Crew2. They view Zengue as a CB, even though he played some FB early at Dayton. Holstad as a late bloomer CM/DM type. Zengue played 4 years, Holstad 5.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/columbus-crew-select-two-players-023537238.html

Tobias C · Jan 19, 2023

Minnman said: ↑

I was going to write this long, boring post about MLS roster rules and the approved use of GAM/TAM for both buying down salaries and acquiring players above the DP threshold who don't count as DPs. Be thankful I resisted the urge.

The short version of this is that, maybe Nagbe's option year salary is below $1,651,250, meaning we could use $1M in TAM to buy down his salary to below DP level and at the same time sign a new DP at whatever amount we want to (we're required to sign a new DP if we use TAM in this way).

But even if that's not the case (i.e., if his salary is too high), we can use that same $1M of TAM to sign a player whose total salary and acquisition costs don't exceed $1.651M and he'd not count as a DP. That's not quite as flashy as another multi-million dollar transfer fee acquisition, but it sure as hell could be someone far better than your average MLS journeyman. This largely means finding a player who's either out of contract or, for some reason, acquirable for a modest fee. Zlatan was a TAM player (hard as that is to believe). But even at a lesser level, a $1M+ salary player added to this team via the simple use of TAM is very, very achievable, no complicated DP machinations required.
Click to expand...

So what im hearing is I should go look at all the players around the world that are free agents now and whos contracts are up this summer. Got it.

Minnman · Jan 19, 2023

TrueCrew said: ↑

Salary Cap = $4,900,000. Don't have to use spots 19, 20. Min Budget charged imputed to cap if use less than 18. Max budget charge is $612,500.
Click to expand...

This is dated.

The salary budget for 2023 is $5,210,000.

Max budget charge/DP threshold is $651,250.

Bill Archer · Jan 20, 2023

TrueCrew said: ↑

As others have already pisted, Ramirez official. Signed thrylu '24 with an option for '25.

With this signing, we now have 25 players signed. 14 Senior + 2 vet min + 9 Supplemental.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/chri...us-crew-sign-striker-from-scotland-s-aberdeen

As always, feel free to point out my screw ups.

I. Senior Roster (1-20). 15 of 20.

Salary Cap = $4,900,000. Don't have to use spots 19, 20. Min Budget charged imputed to cap if use less than 18. Max budget charge is $612,500. If there is only one number, the player has the same value for Base and Guaranteed money.

Rank, Player, Pos, Age, DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$
1. Zelarayan, M, 30, 6/20/92, 5'8", 154, Argentina/Armenia, DP, INT#1, $3.1 mil/$3.7 mil. Thru '24, '25 O.
2. Hernandez (Cucho), CF, 23, 4/20/99, 5'9', 161. Colombia, YDP, INT#2, $2.6 mil/$2,886,000. Thru '25.
3. Nagbe, CM, 32, 7/19/90, 5'9", 165, USA/Liberia, DP, $1,760,000/ditto.
4. Mensah, D, 32, 7/13/90, 6'2", 183, Ghana, GC: $1,000,000/$1,140,667
5. Room, GK, 33, 2/6/89, 6'3", 179, Curacao/NED, INT#3, $800k/$883k ('24 O).
6. Degenek, D, 28, 4/28/94, 6'1", 182, Australia/Croatia, INT#4, $715k/$812k. Th '23, O '25
7. Molino, M, 32, 6/17/90, 5'11", 145, Trinidad & Tobago, GC, $700,348/ditto.
8. Yeboah, M, 25, 3/28/97, 5'9", Ghana, INT#5, $600k/$663,000. Th '24, O '25. (MLS U22?)
9. Moreira, D, 28, 8/13/94, 5'10", 159, France, INT#6, $550k/$632,708.
10. Matan, M, 23, 8/29/99, 5'5", 135, Romania, INT#7, U22, $425k/$458,250.
11. Diaz, M, 24, 12/6/98, 5'11", 159, Costa Rica, INT#8, $375k/$408,900.
12. Williams, D, 34, 4/18/88, 6'2", 185, USA: $325k/$325k
13. Medranda, LB, 28, 2/7/94, 5'5", 152, Colombia/USA, $???/$???, O in '24.
14. Ramirez, F, 31, 4/4/91, 6'2", 187, USA, $???/$???, thru '24, '25 O.
15. Bush, GK, 36, 3/6/86, 6'1", 187, USA, $84k/$84k, (thru '23).
16. Open
17. Open
18. Open
---------------------------
19. Open
20. Open (Scott)
-----------------------
MLS/Crew.com both list Scott and not Bush as a Senior Roster player. Both are senior min players ($84k) and any could be either Senior or Supplemental 21-24. I put Bush Senior because he's above him in the pecking order.

Also, MLS lists Farsi as a Senior player. But his listed salary ($65.5k) is below Senior Min. Accordingly, I have him down further.
--------------------

II. Supplemental Roster (21-30) (10 of 10)

Do not count towards salary cap. Max of 10 players, subject to Season Ending Injured List, Injured List, and Loan Exceptions. All Generation adidas players are Supplemental for their initial contract.

A. Spots 21-24. (Supplemental). 4 of 4.

Must earn at least the Senior Min salary of $84,000. Can be: a) Senior Min players, b) Generation Adidas players, c) designated Super draft eligible players, or d) HGs/HGs earning more than the Sen Min subject to HG Player Subsidy (up to $125 k more than Senior Min salary of $84k).

Rank, Player, Pos, Age, DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$

21. Scott, GK, 23, 6/30/99, 6'2", 174, USA, $84k/$84k. Th '22, O '23, '24.
22. Schulte, GK, 21, 3/13/01, 6'5", 200, USA, GA, $84k/$96,431
23. A. Morris, M, 21, 11/16/01, 5'10", 158, USA, HG, $170k/$172k.
24. Sands, D/M, 22, 7/6/00, 5'10",150, USA, HG, $84k/$90,250. Th '22. O '23 & '24.
-----------------------
Schulte was both Super draft eligible and GA. Scott is a vet min guy who could be Senior but I put him here as long as we have room. Makes no sense to use a Senior spot if we don't have to. If Arfstad lands a first team contract, it would probably be here, though it could be Senior.

I put A. Morris up here for now, though based on his HG status, he could be lower. Why? Well, the six other guys who fill the remainder of the roster are all either HGs who make less (Sands, Russell-Rowe, Zawadzki, Parente, Hughes) on non-GAs who are under $84k minimum Supp salary (Farsi).
-----------------------------

B. Slots 25-28. (Reserve). 4 of 4.

Must make at least the Reserve Min salary of $65,500. Can be: a) Reserve Min Players (24 or younger during league year), b) Homegrown Players earning more than Reserve Min subject to HG Player subsidy, or C) GA players earning the Res Min Salary.

Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$

25. Russell-Rowe, CF, 20, 9/13/02, 6'0", 161, Canada, HG, $65,500/$72,866. Tr '24, O '25-'6.
26. Farsi, D/M, 23, 12/16/99, 5'10", Canada, INT#10, $65,500/$75,333, Th '23, O '24, '25.
27. Zawadzki, M, 22, 4/21/00, 6'0", 160, USA, HG, $84k/$89k. Th '23/O '24, '25.
28. J. Morris, D/M, 23, 3/3/99, 6'1/", 161, USA, HG?, $65,500/$65,500. Th '23, O '24, '25.
------------------------
JRR counts as a domestic player, like Fraser did, via HG rule, even though he is Canadian. MLS/Crew list him as a 21-24 guy, but I think this is wrong, his salary, like Farsi's, is too low to be a spot 21-24 guy.

Some media repoted J. Moreis as a HG 'priority' when we got him. But if MLS are correct & J. Morris is NOT a HG, he has to be 25-28 due to his salary/non-HG status.

https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-crew-acquire-jake-morris-in-trade-with-seattle-sounders
----------------------------------

C. Slots 29-30. (Homegrown Reserve).

Must be filled with HGs earning the Reserve Min salary or HGs earning more than the Reserve Min ($65,500) subject to HG Player Subsidy.

Rank, Player, Pos, Age,DOB, HT, WT, Nat, Desig(s), Base $$/Guar $$

29. Parente, M, 22, 3/16/00, 5'9", USA, HG, $66,724/$70,724.
30. Hughes, D, 22, 7/22/00, 6'3", 190, USA, HG, $???/$???, Thr '24, O thr '26.
---------------
I put our 2 HGs who seem to be lowest on the totem pole here. Though for all intents & purposes, A. Morris, Sands, JRR, Zawadzki, Parente, and Hughes are interchangeable.
-------

III. Draftees (3)

1. Rd 1, #14: Maximilian Arfstan, F/W, 21, 4/19/01, 6'1", 172, USA, Earthquakes II (UC Davis).
2. Rd 1, #27: Xavier Zengue, CB, 21, 3/21/01, 6'0", USA, Dayton
3. Rd 2, #43: Clay Holstad, M, 6'2", 160, USA, Kentucky.

Wray's thoughts via Yahoo! summed up:

1) They think Arfstan will compete for a first team spot. Will see in training camp.

2) Others were focused on high upside guys who can develop at Crew2. They view Zengue as a CB, even though he played some FB early at Dayton. Holstad as a late bloomer CM/DM type. Zengue played 4 years, Holstad 5.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/columbus-crew-select-two-players-023537238.html
Click to expand...

re: Arfsten, as I understand it, he has no choice except to compete for a first team contract. If the Crew don't give him one, he goes back to SJ. Crew II is not an option.

MLSinCleveland · Jan 20, 2023

Minnman said: ↑

I was going to write this long, boring post about MLS roster rules and the approved use of GAM/TAM for both buying down salaries and acquiring players above the DP threshold who don't count as DPs. Be thankful I resisted the urge.

The short version of this is that, maybe Nagbe's option year salary is below $1,651,250, meaning we could use $1M in TAM to buy down his salary to below DP level and at the same time sign a new DP at whatever amount we want to (we're required to sign a new DP if we use TAM in this way).

But even if that's not the case (i.e., if his salary is too high), we can use that same $1M of TAM to sign a player whose total salary and acquisition costs don't exceed $1.651M and he'd not count as a DP. That's not quite as flashy as another multi-million dollar transfer fee acquisition, but it sure as hell could be someone far better than your average MLS journeyman. This largely means finding a player who's either out of contract or, for some reason, acquirable for a modest fee. Zlatan was a TAM player (hard as that is to believe). But even at a lesser level, a $1M+ salary player added to this team via the simple use of TAM is very, very achievable, no complicated DP machinations required.
Click to expand...

I'm honestly interested in the long version (says the guy who maintains a massive spreadsheet of the entire Cleveland Guardians organization).

MLSinCleveland · Jan 20, 2023

Bill Archer said: ↑

re: Arfsten, as I understand it, he has no choice except to compete for a first team contract. If the Crew don't give him one, he goes back to SJ. Crew II is not an option.
Click to expand...

If he signs a first-team contract, can he be assigned to the Capys for rehab or additional work or would he Crew have to either loan him to SJ II or send him back to the Quakes permanently?

MLSinCleveland · Jan 20, 2023

Any word on trialists?

Ball Kicker · Jan 20, 2023

MLSinCleveland said: ↑

If he signs a first-team contract, can he be assigned to the Capys for rehab or additional work or would he Crew have to either loan him to SJ II or send him back to the Quakes permanently?
Click to expand...

I believe he can just be loaned to the Capys. The Crew had J Morris, Parente, and I think someone else on first team contracts that just played with Crew 2. It just HAS to be a first team contract.

Bill Archer · Jan 20, 2023

Ball Kicker said: ↑

I believe he can just be loaned to the Capys. The Crew had J Morris, Parente, and I think someone else on first team contracts that just played with Crew 2. It just HAS to be a first team contract.
Click to expand...

This.

A first team.contract is a first team contract. It doesn't matter if the Haslams send him to Cleveland to clean their pool and wash their cars.

MLSinCleveland · Jan 20, 2023

Bill Archer said: ↑

This.

A first team.contract is a first team contract. It doesn't matter if the Haslams send him to Cleveland to clean their pool and wash their cars.
Click to expand...

Thanks. My brain immediately went to the Rule 5 Draft situation in baseball.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, minor league baseball players who haven't been added to the parent club 's 40-man roster after four minor league seasons (five for international players as they are signed younger) can be drafted by another major league club at the Winter Meetings. The catch is that they have to stay on the drafting team's 26-man major league roster (or injured list if injured) for the entire next season.

Bill Archer · Jan 20, 2023

MLSinCleveland said: ↑

Thanks. My brain immediately went to the Rule 5 Draft situation in baseball.

For those who don't know what I'm talking about, minor league baseball players who haven't been added to the parent club 's 40-man roster after four minor league seasons (five for international players as they are signed younger) can be drafted by another major league club at the Winter Meetings. The catch is that they have to stay on the drafting team's 26-man major league roster (or injured list if injured) for the entire next season.
Click to expand...

That's actually a very illustrative point of reference.

The purpose of course is to prevent teams from burying prospects who might otherwise deserve a decent shot at the majors.

I dont think the MLS rule is entirely analogous, but the main reason is that unlike baseball, in theory at least all player contracts - and indeed every team - are essentially the property of MLS.

It's closer to the way Homegrowns are treated, contractually; those guys may sign an HG offer from team X but team X is owned by MLS.

It's not something they like making a point of, but like everything else they do it's still part of the old single entity model, even though they're loathe to say those words out loud.

Paul171121 · Jan 20, 2023

Allocation Order is no more

A statement from Major League Soccer: pic.twitter.com/RQ4CsAF9Yf
— MLS Communications (@MLS_PR) January 20, 2023

WhiteHartShame · Jan 20, 2023

Jaybir said: ↑

Sorry, trying to make sure I am tracking correctly. So the fans were glad to see him go? Ugh. Or, sarcastically, meaning they hate to see him go? Thanks is advance. Cool trip and timing!
Click to expand...

Most of the Aberdeen supporters I spoke with were glad to see him go. When I challenged them on it, based on the goals he scored last season, they felt like their new striker is better and his salary was a drag on the club's finances. Here's my view from the away supporter's section at Tynecastle.

Crew96Fan · Jan 20, 2023

Years ago, when I was finished with 7th grade, my club team took a trip to Europe for a soccer trip. Our hotel and home base in Sittard, Netherlands was occupied at the same time by Aberdeen during their preseason camp. Always had a soft spot for them after that. Pretty cool to see it come full circle with a player from there joining Columbus (even if he is American and played most of his career here)