The Major League Soccer Player's Union updated the listing of MLS players salaries earlier today, and shed some light on just how much the league's newcomers are costing.
From million-dollar strikers Kenny Miller and Marco DiVaio, to centerbacks making between $200K an $300K like Arne Friedrich, Alessando Nesta and Bakary Soumare, MLS teams did some serious spending to make their mid-season roster improvements.
There are also some interesting bargains, such as New England Olympic star Jerry Bengtson and impressive Houston newcomer Oscar Boniek Garcia, who both are making less than $160,000 in guaranteed salary (though it should be noted that things like marketing and promotional incentives and transfer fees are not included in those figures. In the cases of Bengtson and Garcia, it is a safe bet that the transfer fees that brought them to MLS are what makes both Designated Players).
Here is a rundown of how much money the league's mid-season additions are slated to make in 2012:
MLS SALARIES FOR NEW ARRIVALS
Arne Friedrich (Chicago Fire)- $230,833
Sherjill McDonald (Chicago Fire)-$487,125
Jairo Arrieta (Columbus Crew)- $225,375
Oscar Boniek Garcia (Houston Dynamo)- $151,250
Marco DiVaio (Montreal Impact) $1,937,508
Alessandro Nesta (Montreal Impact)- $225,000
Jerry Bengtson (New England Revolution)- $120,000
Bakary Soumare (Philadelphia Union)- $280,000
Barry Robson (Vancouver Whitecaps)- $596,499
Kenny Miller (Vancouver Whitecaps)- $1,239,316
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If you want to see all the MLS salaries, you can see them here. Players who were signed right at the deadline, like Tim Cahill, are not listed yet.
What do you think of these salaries? Who do you consider a bargain? Who is overpriced?
Share your thoughts below.