Chicago Fire Budget Resources

Let me get this straight- our nearly MaxTAM player is so valuable that we cannot afford to ever play him OR he sucks so bad we never play him. You choose!

 

Bump

 

Old Coach- Franco and Saletros acquisitions apparently happened.
Revised terms for Franco presumably could reduce Salary Budget Charge for him.
I just saw one report that Porto was retaining 50% sell-on interest in original deal.
Possible that revised deal reduced this % rather than reducing acquisition fee. In
any case, should be same or lower than previously estimated.
Saletros estimated as exact MaxTAM. $3,160,000 fee plus three year deal at $750,000.
Fire acquiring midTAM and MaxTAM midfielders makes it even more likely that Kouame and Acosta will soon be gone IMO.

 

Further update- based upon above Joe Chatz and other info., it looks like the acquisition fee is $1,000,000 with 2 1/2 year contract at $697,083 yearly salary.
This would calculate to $1,000,000/ 2.5 or $400,000 fee amortization per plus salary of $697,083 or $1,097,083 Salary Budget Charge.

 

No. Pretty sure numbers shown are correct.
Porto acquired him 7-22 for $4,500,000 and signed him to a 5 year contract (until 7-27) at $950,000 salary per year. As part of transfer negotiations, Franco agreed to a new salary of $650,000 and $697,083 total compensation. (Not completely sure if the lower salary is only until 7-27 or for entire term. Thinking entire term.)
Both Porto and Franco conceded a lot to make this deal. Surprised me how much!

 

Just now saw posting from Porto listing fee as $750k plus up to additional $250k in performance bonuses. All fees spread over 3 year period. Also, Porto retaining 50% sell-on rights ( too bad). The fact that part of $1,000,000 quoted is contingent on performance probably means unknown portion of fee will not be included in budget

 

Could easily be in $950k to $1,050k (LowTAM range). MLS posted rules not explicit on which performance bonuses apply and which do not. Also, as I mentioned, there is a little uncertainty if $693,087 applies for entire term or just until 7-27.

 

Agree on length of contract, just not 100% sure the reduced salary applies to entire term or only through 7-27 when his old contract with Porto expired. Think entire term.

 

Formula is total of acquisition costs and guaranteed payments to player over the base (non-option) term divided by number of years. It is not about prorating salary during an initial loan period.
Franco’s salary reduction was his concession to Porto (and Fire) to induce them to make the deal happen. Indications and logic would say for entire base term but there is a small chance it increases after 7-27.

 

Old Coach- did a little cogitating about 2026 Senior Roster Resources. As previously constructed, the Needed Budget Resources total was $12,963,920. Will Update!

Assumptions-1) Saletros and Franco acquisitions completed on terms here listed
Franco-1,000,000, 697,083, 1,097,083 Saletros-3,160,000, 750,000, 1,803,125
2) Fire “departs” Barlow, declines Kouame option and Buyout of Acosta happens
3) Senior Roster count is 17 after above activity
4) Fire removes U22 tag from Guti, resulting in $750,425 salary budget increase
5) Fire acquire DP now (position not defined), resulting in $803,125 increase
6) Additional Fire Budget Needs- 2026 Waterman GAM $300,000, possible other salary increases $300,000, purchase of (at least) 1 international slot $200,000
7) New updated Est. Needed Budget Resources total is now $12,918,363
8) Est. Salary Budget Resources Available (remain at) $13,830,000. This figure includes est $2,000,000 Teran Sales GAM but no Guti sale or 2+4+2 option GAM.
9) Above indicates about $900,000 left for backup ST and backup GK.
10) Waiting until mid-season to acquire DP would provide $1,000,000 additional
GAM. Sales could also generate est remaining Sales GAM of $1,000,000
11) Senior Roster count (above) of 17 allows addition of DP plus 2 more players

Did this to get an idea what was possible, given recent activity and comments.
IMPORTANT- accuracy? as this was completed rapidly without double-checking

 

Current 2026 Fire Senior Roster players under contract total 16
List- Zinck, Elliott (will happen) Franco, Waterman, Cuypers, Bamba, Gutman, Pineda, Brady, Mueller, MHS, Rogers, Gutierrez, Barroso, Radojevic, D’Avilla

Awaiting Decisions-3 Barlow, Kouame, Acosta -signed but at risk IMO

GGG told Bogert that Fire would like to add 4 players.
(CM, backup ST, CB?, backup GK?, backup Winger? - possibilities?)

Senior Roster limit is 20.

Doesn’t take a calculator to do this math!

 

Dang! Doublechecking and found I forgot to add Saletros to list of players under contract. Revised total is now 17.
17+4 additions = 21. 1 player over limit. So not only 3 listed possible departures but also one from current list?
As they say- machines do not make mistakes but people do.

 

Supplemental Roster-max 10 players + Turdean
Boltz, Borso, Cupps, Dean, Gal, Oregel, Poreba, Reynolds, Shokalook, Williams

Total Departures- 7 players
Acosta, Barlow, Dowd, Gasper, Glasgow, Gonzalez, Kouame,

Fire announcement for Elliott acquisition indicated 1 year firm deal plus 1 year option.
Presumably the option salary is the same as this year.