Sporting KC Salaries Out

The MLS Player's Union has released player salaries for this year, as of May 1. There are certainly come surprises on KC's list. Here is the list, at the end I'll have my thoughts on the salaries. For those wondering why there are two numbers, the first number is the player's base salary, meaning what counts against the cap. The second number includes any signing and guaranteed bonuses, annualized (meaning the bonus divided out over the length of the contract). Here is the list.

Club Last Name First Name Pos 2011 Base Salary 2011 Guaranteed Compensation
KC Aiyegbusi Olukorede D $ 42,000.00 $ 42,000.00
KC Arnaud Davy M $ 250,000.00 $ 258,750.00
KC Auvray Stephane M $ 170,000.00 $ 208,125.00
KC Besler Matt D $ 58,410.00 $ 69,660.00
KC Bravo Omar F $ 120,000.00 $ 170,000.00
KC Bunbury Teal F $ 85,000.00 $ 183,000.00
KC Cesar Julio D $ 210,000.00 $ 213,750.00
KC Collin Aurelien D $ 185,004.00 $ 191,254.00
KC Diop Ibrahim M $ 60,000.00 $ 64,250.00
KC Ellis Kevin D $ 32,604.00 $ 33,354.00
KC Espinoza Roger M $ 100,000.00 $ 133,750.00
KC Harrington Michael M-D $ 110,000.00 $ 136,833.33
KC Jones Mychel D $ 32,604.00 $ 32,604.00
KC Kamara Kei F $ 200,000.00 $ 202,500.00
KC Kempin Jonathan GK $ 42,000.00 $ 49,083.33
KC Kounenakis Nick D $ 110,004.00 $ 120,004.00
KC Kronberg Eric GK $ 62,500.00 $ 62,500.00
KC Lorenz Scott D $ 32,604.00 $ 32,604.00
KC Myers Chance D-M $ 72,000.00 $ 87,666.67
KC Nielsen Jimmy GK $ 200,000.00 $ 241,666.67
KC Rocastle Craig M $ 110,000.00 $ 116,062.50
KC Sapong Charles F $ 42,000.00 $ 42,000.00
KC Sassano Luke M-D $ 42,000.00 $ 42,000.00
KC Smith Ryan M-F $ 140,000.00 $ 144,375.00
KC Stojcev Milos M $ 90,000.00 $ 99,000.00
KC Thomas Shavar D $ 160,000.00 $ 174,375.00
KC Warzycha Konrad M $ 32,604.00 $ 32,604.00
KC Zusi Graham F-M $ 42,000.00 $ 42,000.00

Thoughts. Omar Bravo's salary appears to be a misprint based off of the way that all the other designated players in the league read on the list. All the rest that are paid over $1,000,000 have the 7 figures there. So I'm thinking it's likely that there is a zero missing off of Bravo's salary and he's getting closer to $1,200,000. The listing of him counting $120,000 against the cap is likely wrong. It's the standard $385,000 for a DP.

We're still paying Nikos Kounenakis? According to the salary list we are. Either that's a misprint, or KC gave a 2 year guaranteed contract to a player who made the bench only 2 or 3 times during his time here and never played in a game. Yeah, rumor is he had some kind of medical condition, possibly a stroke, but the move seems to reinforce a lot of people's thoughts that it was a desperation move for a defender.

Julio Cesar is our third highest paid player? Seriously? After Davy Arnaud, who's making a quarter million, and Bravo's $385,000 cap hit, the Brazilian defender who has really failed to impress is the team's next highest paid player at $210,000.

Based on my understanding of the roster rules, I've removed Teal Bunbury (GA), Jon Kempin (HG), and the four players making under $40,000 (Kevin Ellis, Mike Jones, Scott Lorenz, and Konrad Warzycha) from the team's total salary. Counting Bravo's cap hit as $385,000, KC is currently using around $2,840,918 of their salary cap this year. The salary cap for players 1 through 20 is $2,675,000, so there is other stuff going on not mentioned that gets us down below the cap. Either way it appears unlikely that we have as much cap space as we may have thought...

Are we paying all of Shavar Thomas' salary this year? Last year when we traded for him from Philadelphia, the Union picked up a large portion of his salary. I wonder if they're doing the same this year. If so that knocks the cap hit down a little bit.

SKC Waive Two, Release Two from Preseason

Sporting KC made some mroe roster moves today, as they officially waived two more players from last year's team, and let go of two of the team's six draft picks this year. Officially gone now are Sunil Chhetri and Nikos Kounenakis. Both weren't expected to be back and rumors had been floating around for a while. Kounenakis' future here was less likely than Chhetri's. Kounenakis was mentioned as being waived earlier this month in articles by Andrew Wiebe and interviews by Thad at The Back Post. Chhetri's future wasn't quite in as much doubt, although most didn't expect him back after he was loaned back to his national team after the Manchester United friendly. While there was talk of re-signing him if the price was right and loaning him out, I don't think many people were really expecting Chhetri to be in a KC uniform this year. And I don't think the loan possibility was that much of a possibility either.

Of the two, Chhetri is the only one to make a competitive appearance for the Wizards, starting and playing 45 minutes in the US Open Cup qualifier against Colorado. Kounenakis did make a few bench appearances for KC shortly after his signing, but never did for KC. With both of their departures official, the team does have two international slots now open that could be used on any number of trialists that are currently in camp.

The other two let go from the team's preseason camp were draft picks JT Murray and Sam Scales. Murray was the more surprising of the two, as Murray was a second round pick for KC in the Superdraft. Murray was expected to come in and have the chance to be Roger Espinoza's back up if and when he was called up for the Honduran team. Murray though apparently didn't impress enough and is now gone. Scales was the team's first round pick in the Supplemental draft this year. Scales had impressed in preseason at times, including winning one of the two beep test groups. It wasn't enough though for Scales to earn a place on the roster. The team still has a ways to go to complete their roster, but this movement is a start in that process.

More Roster Movement

Today while speaking with Andrew Wiebe from MLSsoccer.com, Peter Vermes gave us a bit of insight into what is currently going on with the roster for Sporting KC next year. Some of it we've heard previously from Thad's interviews with the SKC coach, but we did get some new news as well.

First for the news we've kind of already heard and been told. Zoltan Hercegfalvi, at this time is not expected to be back with the team at this time. Hercegfalvi has returned to Hungary, but while Vermes hasn't ruled out bringing him back, as of this time he will not be back right now. With regards to Michael Harrington, Vermes still says that the team is close to signing him to a new contract and that the ball is in Harrington and his agent's court. Also along with Thad's previous conversation with Vermes, the signing of Luke Sassano is only a formality at this point it appears. Vermes also discusses Ryan Smith's status again saying that Smith is very close to moving off the international player list.

Onto some of the new information. Two more internationals appear like they won't be back next year either. Vermes confirms that Nikos Kounenakis will not be returning to KC next season after being brought over late last year and not making a single appearance.

The other player unlikely to return is Indian forward, Sunil Chhetri. Vermes says an announcement on Chhetri's status will be made in the next few weeks. I'd likely expect this announcement to come some time shortly after India's exit from the AFC Asian Cup which kicked off today. Maybe the team will let him out of his contract to let him sign with Australian side Perth Glory as was rumored.

With Hercegfalvi, Kounenakis, and potentially Chhetri gone from KC, KC will have 3 international slots open up. Four if/when Smith gets his citizenship/green card. That would potentially open slots for Sheldon Bateau and Daneil Cyrus, the two Trinidad and Tobago players who will join the team for a trial starting on the 24th. With a few internationals in the draft on Thursday as well, one of them could be a target too. Once again the team appears set to be making a quite a few moves this offseason.

New Salaries Out

The MLS Players Union has updated their list of salaries for the 2010 season for the players in the league. The Wizards added two players since the salaries came out, as the Wizards added Nikos Kounenakis and Shavar Thomas. Kounenakis is making a $60,000 base and $70,000 guaranteed. Not a horrible salary for a guy that has yet to make an appearance for KC. Thomas is making $145,000 base and $159,375 guaranteed. That certainly sounds like it's a bit high for the Jamaican defender, but the good news from what I've heard is that the Wizards aren't paying all of Thomas' salary. Word is that Philadelphia is paying a portion, if not a large portion of Thomas' salary this season which makes the move appear better.

Quick News

Some news from the past few days to touch on.

Sal Zizzo to Chivas USA. KC had the second best chance of landing the former U-20 stand out in today's lottery, but he's headed to the West Coast to play at the Home Depot Center.

Nikos Kounenakis official. Yesterday the team officially announced the signing of Greek defender, Nikos Kounenakis. The team is still waiting on the P1 Visa and ITC, once those are in the Wizards will have to make roster space.

Wizards make $20 tickets available for United game. The Wizards have made more tickets available for Sunday's game against Manchester United at Arrowhead. These tickets are on the second deck, probably in what you'd consider nose bleed seats.

Speaking of the United game, last weekend against Colorado, Robb Heineman said on the broadcast that the Wizards Indian forward, Sunil Chhetri, will get some playing time. That news has been fully confirmed by the team, so our friends in Indian can celebrate that. They can also celebrate because the game will be broadcasted on MUFC Online for a subscription fee.

Wizards Sign Greek Defender

Last night during the broadcast of the Wizards-Rapids game, Robb Heineman announced that the Wizards had made another signing. No, not Omar Bravo, who he said that deal is not finalized yet, but Nikos Kounenakis a Greek defender who last played for Aris Limassol, who was relegated last season from the Cypriot First Division. Kounenakis is a 32 year old, South African born Greek, who has found most of his success playing for OFI Crete in the Greek league. I haven't seen him play, but hopefully he brings some help to the center of defense, where KC still struggles, with Shavar Thomas taking his turn last night in Colorado, getting beat twice by Conor Casey. The one worry is that he has mainly played for lower level sides, and I don't think a lot of people give the Cyprus league much of a thought as a competitive league.