MLS rule changes: a closer look

Guten Morgen everybody. There is plenty to get to on the American soccer news front this morning. The Juan Carlos Osorio press conference took up most of my afternoon on Tuesday and therefore kept me from blogging on two other newsworthy developments.

I will get to the U.S. Under-23 team's Olympic qualifying draw later this morning but for right now I wanted to talk about Major League Soccer's announcement of changes to its roster guidelines. For those of you who missed it, MLS revealed that it has changed the number of international players team can have. Now, instead of being limited to four senior international players, MLS teams will start out with as many as eight slots that can be used on international players, a number that teams can increase via trade.

Yes, you read that right. Not only can teams have up to eight foreign players, they can trade for other team's foreign slots. So in theory, a team could field a starting 11 made up entirely of foreign players. A scary thought? Not really. It is actually a necessary evil brought on by the league's rapid expansion.

The changes sound a little more drastic than they really are. As it stood in 2007, teams were allowed to have as many as seven foreign players, but only four could be senior international players (with three or more slots available for youth internationals, players under 25). Now, MLS has done away with distinguishing between senior and youth internationals.

So the actual increase in total number of foreign slots per team is only one more, which isn't all that extreme. It is the least the league could do to try and prevent the quality of play in MLSfrom dipping because of expansion. Some reactionary folks may gloss over the numbers and decide that this will hurt the American player but that just isn't the case here. What hurts the development of American players is a reduced quality of play in this country's top league. There are still plenty of roster spots to go around, and more are on the way.

Does this mean teams will stop searching for reasonably-priced young foreign talent, which is what a good number of youth internationals were? Not likely. The salary cap is still spandex tight and most teams aren't going to be able to afford bringing in eight veteran foreign players considering their likely salary demands (well, unless you're the LA Galaxy). The goal will still be to find affordable talents who can become stars like Juan Toja and Maykel Galindo.

Yes, these rules changes COULD mean that a team fields an Arsenal-like lineup made up of ZERO domestic players but that is pretty unlikely given salary constraints as well as the simple fact that few, if any, MLS teams have the scouting resources to start bringing in hordes of good and inexpensive foreign talent. It is just more practical for MLS teams to scout and identify American talent. You can argue that Chivas USA might be tempted to bring in hordes of Mexican players, but that didn't really happen when the team was formed, why will it happen now? Chivas USA's four best players are three Americans (Guzan, Kljestan, Razov) and a Cuban (Galindo) so the Goats aren't likely to get rid of that talent in a belated attempt to stick to the All-Mexican roots of Chivas de Guadalajara.

The real interesting twist on this rule change was the news that teams can now trade these foreign slots. Let's face it, there are some teams in the league that just have a tougher time attracting foreign players than others. Now, instead of a small market team like a Columbus or Kansas City struggling to fill its foreign slots, those teams can deal slots for useful tools such as players or draft picks.

This also allows teams that are in a better position to make use of more foreign slots, like Chivas USA and Toronto FC, to deal for those slots. Toronto must be especially giddy with the rules changes, especially receiving two extra foreign slots. Yes, those two slots must be used on American players, but you won't hear Mo Johnston complain about that considering how tough a time he had last season in finding quality Canadian players.

One thing you can look forward to is a flurry of trading because of these rules changes. Johnston, for one, will be looking to horde foreign slots like a overzealous squirrel gathering acorns (and not necessarily to acquire Canadians). The question is whether some teams with reputations for shying away from the trading table will make use of these changes to benefit their teams or stand pat and watch the league's better player personnel people outwork them. Let's face it, not all MLS front offices/coaching staff are created equal and these changes should show us who is good at this aspect of roster building and who isn't.

These changes weren't the only ones announced by MLS. The league is also FINALLY doing away with the rather dumb policy of allowing teams to retain the rights of players they waived. Actually, the rule last season gave teams the right of first refusal on waived players, so the rule change doesn't mean all that much. It does allows players to move around more freely, which is always a good thing.

In other news, the league revealed the newest allocation rankings, which determines what teams get first dibs on players that multiple teams are interested in acquiring. Here is the list:

1. San Jose
2. Toronto
3. Real Salt Lake
4. Los Angeles
5. Colorado Rapids
6. Columbus Crew
7. NY Red Bulls
8. FC Dallas
9. Chivas USA
10. DC United
11. Kansas City Wizards
12. Chicago Fire
13. New England Revolution
14. Houston Dynamo'

Why does this order matter? Well, let's say Andriy Shevchenko decides he wants to play in MLS and the Galaxy and Red Bulls both want him and put him claims for him at the same time. Guess who gets first crack at him? Yep, the Galaxy. This applies to U.S. national team players and any other top-flight talent MLS decides should be allocated using the rankings. Let's say, for example, that Benny Feilhaber was coming to MLS. San Jose would have first crack at signing him, or it could trade that right.

And lastly, MLS announced that it was grandfathering Landon Donovan, Eddie Johnson and Carlos Ruiz as designated players for the 2009 season, meaning none of the three will count as designated players for the next two seasons despite earning salaries well in excess of the league maximum. Interesting development to say the least. Why? Well, Eddie Johnson looks like a very good bet to leave MLS this winter and Ruiz's current team, FC Dallas, doesn't even want him. Let's face it, MLS might as well announce tomorrow that Landon Donovan will be grandfathered as a designated player as long as he is in MLS or as long as Phil Anschutz still owns the LA Galaxy. Who are we kidding already?

What do you think about these guideline changes by the league? Share your thoughts below.

Comments

[Dannyc58]

Ives, How do the salaries of Ruiz/Donovan/EJ count against the cap? Their exact salaries, just without using a DP or they only count say $400k, despite making $900k (in Donovan's case).

Also, how does it work regarding someone like Sheva coming here? If he announces he wants to come to the MLS, he'd be subject to allocation, but if he's a DP he can be signed outright?

Its so confusing.

Thanks,
Dan

[BK (the artist formerly known as Brad)]

I'm really surprised to see that LA isn't #1 on the allocation list. You figure they would have found a way...

As for all of this moronic rules, why do they try to make this so complicated?

[Tim F.]

Doing away with distinguishing between senior and youth internationals is a big deal to me. It always seemed harder to find YIs who could make impact the club.

Here's hoping all the hard work that JCO and JA can do will result in at a minimum four impact signings prior to the start of the season.

[EDB]

How do they come up with the order? Chicago is 12th and DC which won the supports shield is 10th? Makes no sense to me

[drew]

it has to do with the finish in the playoffs, chicago made it farther than dc

[John]

How do they come up with the order? Chicago is 12th and DC which won the supports shield is 10th? Makes no sense to me

Posted by: EDB

Looks to me like it follows the results of the playoffs. If the league is going to insist that the MLS Cup is the league's championship, than following playoff results to reward (or penalize) teams makes sense. Furthermore there have been so many trading of partial allocations, it's next to impossible to sort out (using the originall allocation priority) who'd pick first. And finally, it doesn't matter much anyway. Unless an American of note (maybe, DeMarcus Beasley) said he wanted to return to MLS, teams pretty much their own players now. For instance, it's inconceivable that Shevchenko would sign with MLS and then go to whatever team had allocation priority. A player like that would be a DP signing anyway.

[Kyle]

EDB- It is because Chicago made it to the semifinals (as did KC, so they are 4th from the bottom).

[papa bear]

good points on foreign slots. I love the tradability of them and it will help teams like TFC become competitive. (a prospect that wasn't going to happen anytime soon under current rules)

Danny: the other point Ives missed (sorta) is that the grandfathered players will now only count $400K towards the cap rather than the full number like they used to. Goff had that info on his page last night if you want to read more.

Yeah yeah, it helps the Galaxy.

[Dave]

Last year TFC was allowed 4 SIs, 3 YIs & 3 Americans for a total of 10 non-Canadians.

For 2008, they will be allowed 8 internationals & 2 Americans for a total of 10 total non-Canadians.

So, unless I'm missing something, this rule change only allows TFC one extra international player instead of a US player, which is the same as everybody else in the league.

[Joamiq]

The DP grandfathering is just ridiculous. Through 2009?? Red Bull park will be finished long before Donovan is given fair treatment. You're right Ives, they should just say that he's a free designated player for as long as he's in the league. Why don't the other owners protest this? And what exactly is his cap hit anyway? It's less than the hit of a second designated player, right? Sickening.

[Mikemike]

Dan,
I was under the impression that the grandfathered players actually count less against the cap than a regular DP. I think it was something like 350k against the cap for DP and 250k for grandfathered players.
Not sure about this though.
-Mike

[Mikemike]

Anyway you cut it, it's garbage. MLS wants LA to win a cup. Hell, after the attendance records from the Beckham tour, maybe all the other owners want LA to win too. It will give the league good press and sell more tickets.

[vr3]

The allocation rankings shouldn't even exist. As a Fire fan I believe the team is being screwed. If anything it should be based on total points from the season incld playoffs not how far the team got in the playoffs.

The teams should get who ever they want domestic or foreign as long as they are of quality and not some journeyman through a silly draft.

Why does this league make this sport here in the US so complicated??

[BK (the artist formerly known as Brad)]

Joamiq, that's something I don't understand either. This is essentially showing blatant favoritism for a team. By having a salary cap, you're trying to achieve parity. Then you allow one team to circumvent the cap?? That makes no sense and I don't understand how it's getting no press, no outrage, no questions from the media or from owners. I guess it's just a reflection of how little the MLS is covered in the US.

If you're going to allow one team to get around the cap b/c they're owned by AEG, then just get rid of it altogether.

And vr3, I completely agree. We have multiple caps in other sports and they're probably relatively complicated but they don't have designated foreign players and allocation for this and that. I swear, the MLS tries to come up with more and more complicated rules so no normal fan can understand them and see the shadiness that's going on behind the scenes.

[Felix]

To tell the truth, I like the rule changes. Especially the increasing of SI spots. Let's face it, the talent in the league is watered down already, hopefully this new rule can be used as a tool to help with the diluted domestic talent pool.

[Dominghosa]

The other change to the grandfathered DPs is that MLS will no long cover the rest of the salary for them, which was I believe if the salary exceeded $400,000. The clubs must pay those in full.
I'm not sure if their salary also counts against the cap. But I doubt it.

[kpugs]

The rule changes are meaningless, because the league treats every team differently and the rules don't apply to L.A. anyway.

Look at David Beckham...HE chose L.A. It was entirely his decision and no one else's. And as far as I know no other team was compensated, probably because there were no claims allowed on him, he was just assigned to L.A.

The DP ruling is a complete joke. They should just give one more DP slot to each team, because allowing some teams to nearly their salary cap while the other 10 teams (inclusing San Jose) cannot is completely absurd. I can't believe the non-AEG owners are allowing this to happen.

It is completely obvious to me why, despite the MLS' rapid growth and improvement in quality of play, the league is still a joke to anyone who knows anything about the sport. And I'm a 13-year season ticket holder saying that.

Maybe the casual fans don't notice...but the real fans do, and that irks me to no end.

In short, I don't and won't give a hoot about any rule changes in this league ever, until the league enforces them for everyone.

[Braden]

Yes, the change in SI slots will adversely effect U.S. players, but only young players at skill positions. Rather than seek out talented young Americans and sign them to something above a developmental salary, teams will now think it more profitable to search Argentina or Brazil for an older, more established player. Young Americans with the skills to go to Europe will increasingly conclude bypassing MLS is the way to go. Why take a developmental salary to sit on the bench behind a Toja or Denilson when they could be making a name for themselves on a reserve team in Europe.

Young, talented players are already deciding to opt for USL teams to get playing time and better pay. Why not re-configure the league rules to discourage these players from leaving MLS and encourage more college talent to join the MLS Combine and the draft.

[Mike]

BRADEN brings up some good points. However, I do believe more SI spots will improve the league too. I'm just against this grandfather DP spot. You shouldn't be allowed to make exceptions, but it just shows that this league is run by money. AEG have invested heavily and know they have a lot of sway. Hopefully in the following years these shady rules will iron out with better players. Like someone brought up last time in the "If You Were MLS commissioner for a day" let's raise the minimum salary.

[Hincha Tim]

Come on, Red Bulls fans. Stop bellyaching about LA's "special treatment". The NY franchise has outspent every other club besides LA by far on its coaching staff(s) and its DP's. The small market teams have more of a justification to complain, but not NY.

[Arsenal of MLS?]

Opening Day last season featured the following line up for DC United:

D.C. United -- Troy Perkins, Facundo Erpen (Argentina), Bobby Boswell, Bryan Namoff, Stephen deRoux (Jamaica) Kasali Yinka Casal 58' (England), Brian Carroll, Christian Gomez(Argentina), Justin Moose, Fred 54' (Brazil), Ben Olsen, Luciano Emilio (Brazil), Jaime Moreno (Bolivia).

Out of 13 players played, 7 were foreign. If any team was poised to become the "Arsenal of MLS" then it is DC. I can see them trading for additional international spots and fielding a team where other than the goal keeper, a defender and Ben Olsen the rest of the team is foreign or foreign born.

[O'Rly]

There is a sad myth in this country that there are loads of American Ronaldinhos who are undiscovered. And the myth continues that, "if only the kid got playing time in MLS he'd be great." The reality is that there are very few players in the US who can cut it at an MLS level which is WHY they end up in the USL. If they can't come off the bench in MLS they aren't likely to do much other than play in a reserve league in Europe if they are lucky to get a start on THOSE teams.

[PanchoMiguelMoralesdeConejo]

" but it just shows that this league is run by money."

Other than the Church League, which League isn't run by money? Since AEG has invested the most into the League, why shouldn't they also get the biggest benefit?

[BK (the artist formerly known as Brad)]

Pancho, that is the dumbest argument I have ever heard.

The point of a salary cap is parity between teams. That one team doesn't have an outrageous benefit over the others. Every league is run by money, but more money doesn't change the rules in their favor. In the NFL, the Patriots and the Jaguars are treated the same. Who do you think brings in more money? They don't make the Jags take commercial flights, while the Patriots get their own private plane. They don't give the Patriots a 1/2 off sticker to one player under the salary cap.

If AEG wanted to get involved and back a lot of the league, that doesn't mean that when individual owners come in for the other teams, that AEG is entitled to an advantage. That was their choice to provide financial backing. If the MLS is going to give them a bigger benefit b/c they provided the most money, than the MLS needs to fold now.

[BK (the artist formerly known as Brad)]

Pancho, that is the dumbest argument I have ever heard.

The point of a salary cap is parity between teams. That one team doesn't have an outrageous benefit over the others. Every league is run by money, but more money doesn't change the rules in their favor. In the NFL, the Patriots and the Jaguars are treated the same. Who do you think brings in more money? They don't make the Jags take commercial flights, while the Patriots get their own private plane. They don't give the Patriots a 1/2 off sticker to one player under the salary cap.

If AEG wanted to get involved and back a lot of the league, that doesn't mean that when individual owners come in for the other teams, that AEG is entitled to an advantage. That was their choice to provide financial backing. If the MLS is going to give them a bigger benefit b/c they provided the most money, than the MLS needs to fold now.