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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