what are some ways to incorporate free agency to players without letting it get out control?

I'm interested, particularly with the Pat Noonan scenarios, to see what kind of solutions or compromises could be had with respect to allowing free agency (limited or otherwise) into MLS with mechanisms to keep the basic integrity of the MLS business model?

One concept I have revolves around allowing controlled bidding within a hierarchy system of contracts with salary ceilings and league-awarded compensation for departed players.

Here is my example, it's a little convoluted, but then again that's why they made the commissioner forum

• If a player's contract is due to expire and is either unable or unwilling come to an extension with his current club but wants to stay in MLS, the player and league enter negotiations and agree to a contract level (see below).
  
  Example:
  
  DP (above max)
  A-Level ($300,000 to max)
  B-Level ($200,000 to $299,999)
  C-Level ($100,000 to $199,999)
  D-Level (minimum to $99,999)
  
  
• League opens bidding for player to offers within the range of the agreed upon contract level
• League reveals number of bids to player without revealing the identity of the teams or the dollar amount of the offer
• If player is satisfied with the volume of bidders, the offers and identities may be revealed
• If player is unsatisfied with the volume of bidders, he has the right downgrade his contract one level lower to see if the volume of bids has increased, if he is satisfied, the bids may then be revealed
• Player chooses which offer he wants
• At the end of MLS free agency, teams with a free agency defecit receive compensation add-on picks in the SuperDraft

This concept allows the league to still do the heavy negotiating without the influence of a reckless spending club, while still allowing the teams some leeway to assign a value to a player. It also enables the player to choose his destination among bidders.

The compensation for the team which loses player comes not from the team which gains the player, but from the league by assigning picks based on end of the free agency period (like the NFL does). This prevents the hold ups some players experience when compensation deals with other MLS clubs fall through while their current club won't resign them.

Compensation in the draft would work like this. Every free agent contract is worth a certain amount of points. After the free agency period ends, the team +/- totals based on their activity in the market can then be applied toward whatever combination of compensatory picks the team chooses.

(Loss of a A-level free agent = -4, B-level FA= -3, C-level FA= -2, D-level FA = -1)
(Gain of a A-level free agent = +4, B-level FA= +3, C-level FA= +2, D-level FA = +1)

-8 = 1st round pick ahead of regular draft order
-6 = 1st round pick in middle of regular draft order
-4 = 1st round pick at the end of regular draft order
-3 = 2nd round pick in the middle of regular draft order
-2 = 2nd round pick at the end of the regular draft order
-1 = 3rd round pick in the middle of regular draft order
> -1 = no compensatory picks received

The regular draft order still applies, these picks just get slotted in with them.

Team like the Revs, who are cheap, but succeed in putting together good teams through the draft can continue to do so, while the players they let go are free to play for other clubs.