Tuesday, November 8, 2011

State of the Roster - 2011 Expansion Draft Edition



With the expansion draft just two weeks away, Red Bulls fans are debating the merits of who to protect and who to expose. Presented below, to assist in the discussion, is the current Red Bulls roster and salaries, according to the MLS Players Union website.
Name
Player Des.
Roster Des.
Base Salary
Total Comp.
Cap Hit
Juan Agudelo
HG, GA
OB
55000
85000
0
Chris Albright


100800
100800
100800
Stephane Auvrey


60000
80000
80000
Medhi Ballouchy


125625
125625
125625
Bouna Coundoul


178250
179500
179500
Thierry Henry
INT
DP
5000000
5600000
335000
Corey Hertzog
GA
OB
65000
93500
0
Alex Horwath

OB
32604
32604
0
Sacir Hot
HG
OB
32600
33600
0
Mike Jones

OB
42000
42000
0
Matt Kassel
HG
OB
32600
36600
0
Stephen Keel

OB
42000
42000
0
Tyler Lassiter

OB
42000
42000
0
Joel Lindpere
INT

90000
125000
125000
Rafael Marquez
INT
DP
4600000
4600000
335000
Dax McCarty


155000
175000
175000
Carlos Mendes


98175
101300
101300
Roy Miller
INT

99996
99996
99996
Brian Nielsen
INT

120000
120000
120000
Marcos Paullo
INT

82000
82000
82000
Tim Ream


55125
62625
62625
Dane Richards


145000
156500
156500
Carl Robinson
INT

75000
75000
75000
Luke Rodgers
INT

180000
180000
180000
John Rooney
INT
OB
48000
58000
0
Frank Rost
INT
DP
545460
545460
167500
Teddy Schneider

OB
32604
32604
0
Jan Gunnar Solli
INT

180000
180000
180000
Greg Sutton
On Loan
On Loan
75600
80100
0
Teemu Tainio
INT

159996
164996
164996

A couple of notes. MLS wouldn't be MLS without rules full of vague obfuscation. The "OB" label above indicates players who are on the "Off-Budget" roster. However, it should be noted, I'm guessing here. We know that anyone making below $42,000 is, by definition, off-budget, as well as any player with a Generation Adidas (GA) designation. Beyond that, it's all guesswork, as the league does not clarify what the rules are that determine who can and can not be placed off-budget. I chose to guess the players with the lowest salaries.

A few more considerations. There are rumors that Carl Robinson will be headed out to Vancouver to start his coaching career as an assistant to Martin Rennie. Also, there are reports today that Frank Rost is unlikely to return.

As I look over the roster, the most egregious mistakes I see are: Marcos Paullo, taking up an international slot and being paid $82,000; likewise, Brian Nielsen pulling in $120,000 and an international slot--we've seen glimpses of promise from the guy but to keep him on the roster in a league salary and international restrictions is inexplicable, especially considering we traded away promising young Austin da Luz just to acquire an international slot from D.C. for 6 months. Of course, Medhi Ballouchy being paid any amount to play football is hard to understand; however, since his visa problems don't allow him to leave the U.S., he will certainly be left unprotected and not be selected by Montreal. Also, anyone notice that Corey Hertzog is being paid more than Juan Agudelo? Neither of them count against the cap; I'm just sayin'.

My best guess at a protected list for RBNY:
Henry, Lindpere, Marquez, McCarty, Mendes, Miller, Ream, Richards, Rodgers, Solli, Tainio.

Automatically protected:
Agudelo, Hertzog, Hot, Kassel

Exposed:
Albright, Auvrey, Ballouchy, Coundoul, Horwath, Jones, Keel, Lassiter, Nielsen, Paullo, Robinson, Rooney, Rost, Schneider, Sutton

Notes: If Rost had a no-trade clause, it is required that he be protected even if he is not going to re-sign. If Agudelo graduates from Generation Adidas, he won't get automatic protection unless the rules allow him to stay as a "homegrown off-budget." Again, without knowing all the restrictions that determine who can and can not be designated as "off-budget," it's hard to know.

We'll know in 2 weeks what decisions Mr. Soler and Mr. Backe will make. Who do you think they should protect? Who do you think they will protect? Let us know in the comments below.
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