For Love of Allocation Money

When last we discussed Allocation Money here at Sounder at Heart it was to talk about how it is an addictive drug. Teams without it slice through their roster and readjust. Those with it? They add talent, retain talent, remain great.

As laid out in the MLS rules Allocation Money is simple.

Allocation money can be traded by clubs. Allocation money does not count against a club's salary budget and can be used:

· To sign players new to MLS (that is, a player who did not play in MLS during the previous season).
· To re-sign an existing MLS player, subject to League approval.
· To "buy-down" a player's salary budget charge below the League maximum of $368,750.
· In connection with the exercise of an option to purchase a player's rights or the extension of a player's contract for the second year provided the player was new to MLS in the immediately prior year.

NOTE:To protect the interests of MLS and its clubs during discussions with prospective players or clubs in other leagues, amounts of allocation money held by each club will not be shared publicly.

Seattle now has a lot of Allocation Money. Let's just say the Sounders have ~650,000 Allocation Monies, call it a hypothetical. Adrian's said that he wants to sign one or two more major players. What kind of players can you find at 650k AM?

One tall order of an Alvaro Fernandez and some spare change. A Christian Tiffert.

Valeri and Chara's wages.

Higuain.

Sure, transfer fees could clutter things. That's why frees can get fascinating.

But what if the transfer fee is 500k euro like Roberto Chen? Oh, that's about 650k US? Great!

This is getting fun, isn't it? It grants the ability to add another DP quality player or two.

A Herculez Gomez

Buying Mario Martinez.

There are so many possibilities... Adrian gets to make those possibilities reality.

We do have pretty good flexibility now, so I would count on one or two more pretty major signings potentially. They could be anywhere on the field.

It's silly season time.