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Seattle Salaries Revisited

By Seattle Offside Archives

moneyNow that squads are final, the MLS Players Union has updated its site with current wages. The most recent salaries are below, and what was listed on the site before 9/15/2009 is listed below that.

Some thoughts:

  • Top-paid players (guaranteed salary, including bonuses)
    Ljungberg, $1.314m
    Keller, $300k
    Jaqua, $208k
    Zakuani, $163k*
    Marshall, $161k
    Vagenas, $158k
    Montero, $155k
    Sturgis, $133k*
    Le Toux, $112k

    *Zakuani doesn't count against the cap because he's Generation Adidas. Sturgis, on the other hand, is no longer GA and his salary does count. For the record, there doesn't appear to be a set period for a GA player to not count against the cap. According to Steve Goff, "After each season, MLS determines whether a player has graduated from the program and becomes a senior roster candidate, thus counting against the cap." Which completely clears things up. (For a much more detailed analysis of the question, go here.)

  • I'm vaguely remembering that Sanna Nyassi was dropped from a listed $34,000 to a developmental salary of $20,100 to make way on the Senior Roster for somebody else. Pete Vagenas' return from injury, maybe? (But I'm not sure, so don't blame Pete.)
  • Alonso, Hurtado and Gonzalez are steals. Hurtado especially. I hope he's gotten himself a good agent since he signed his contract.
  • Although I'm wondering if the $48k for Leo is salary for only the July-November part of the season he was here. That would make more sense. I think the minimum developmental salary is $20,100 this year, but Lamar Neagle joined late and is listed at $15,300. This makes me think Gonzalez's salary could be based on partial year as well.
  • Some of our higher-paid players had better be hoping for a serious raise in the salary cap next year, or things are going to have to change.


    • Club/Last Name/First Name/Pos/Base/Salary/Guar. Compensation
    SEA Alonso Osvaldo M $ 65,000.00 $ 65,000.00
    SEA Boss Terry GK $ 36,000.00 $ 38,500.00
    SEA Brown Evan D $ 20,100.00 $ 20,100.00
    SEA Evans Brad M $ 44,550.00 $ 44,550.00
    SEA Eylander Chris GK $ 45,500.00 $ 45,500.00
    SEA Fucito Michael M $ 20,100.00 $ 20,100.00
    SEA Gonzalez Leonardo D $ 48,000.00 $ 48,000.00
    SEA Graham Taylor D $ 55,000.00 $ 55,000.00
    SEA Hurtado John Kennedy D $ 36,000.00 $ 37,000.00
    SEA Ianni Patrick D $ 72,000.00 $ 72,000.00
    SEA Jaqua Nate F $ 189,996.00 $ 208,121.00
    SEA Keller Kasey GK $ 300,000.00 $ 300,000.00
    SEA King Stephen M $ 34,000.00 $ 34,000.00
    SEA Le Toux Sebastian M $ 100,000.00 $ 112,000.00
    SEA Levesque Roger F $ 40,008.00 $ 40,008.00
    SEA Ljungberg Fredrik M $ 1,300,000.00 $ 1,314,000.00
    SEA Marshall Tyrone D $ 157,500.00 $ 161,250.00
    SEA Montero Fredy F $ 155,000.00 $ 155,000.00
    SEA Neagle Lamar M $ 15,300.00 $ 15,300.00
    SEA Nyassi Sanna M $ 20,100.00 $ 20,100.00
    SEA Riley James D $ 69,000.00 $ 72,625.00
    SEA Scott Zach D $ 40,008.00 $ 40,008.00
    SEA Sturgis Nathan M $ 100,000.00 $ 133,000.00
    SEA Vagenas Peter M $ 158,400.00 $ 158,400.00
    SEA Wahl Tyson D $ 34,650.00 $ 34,650.00
    SEA Zakuani Steve F $ 65,000.00 $ 163,000.00

    For comparison purposes, here's what was showing up on the site before Sept. 15:

    SEA Alonso Osvaldo M $ 65,000.00 $ 65,000.00
    SEA Brown Evan D $ 34,008.00 $ 34,008.00
    SEA Evans Brad M $ 44,550.00 $ 44,550.00
    SEA Eylander Chris GK $ 45,500.00 $ 45,500.00
    SEA Graham Taylor D $ 55,000.00 $ 55,000.00
    SEA Hurtado John Kennedy D $ 36,000.00 $ 37,000.00
    SEA Ianni Patrick D $ 72,000.00 $ 72,000.00
    SEA Jaqua Nate F $ 1 89,996.00 $ 208,121.00
    SEA Keller Kasey GK $ 300,000.00 $ 300,000.00
    SEA King Stephen M $ 34,000.00 $ 34,000.00
    SEA Le Toux Sebastian M $ 100,000.00 $ 112,000.00
    SEA Ljungberg Fredrik M $ 1,300,000.00 $ 1,314,000.00
    SEA Marshall Tyrone D $ 157,500.00 $ 161,250.00
    SEA Montero Fredy F $ 155,000.00 $ 155,000.00
    SEA Nyassi Sanna M $ 34,000.00 $ 34,000.00
    SEA Riley James D $ 69,000.00 $ 72,625.00
    SEA Smith Jarrod F $ 37,800.00 $ 37,800.00
    SEA Sturgis Nathan M $ 100,000.00 $ 133,000.00
    SEA Vagenas Peter M $ 158,400.00 $ 158,400.00
    SEA Wahl Tyson D $ 34,650.00 $ 34,650.00
    SEA Zakuani Steve F $ 65,000.00 $ 163,000.00

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