For the 13th season in a row, the MLS Players Association released its annual list of salaries on Wednesday. As has been the case for the past several years, the numbers are continuing to move significantly upward. Long gone are the days of the $11,500 league minimum — MLS is now filled with hefty salaries, with the league average clocking in at $414,803 for the 2019 season.



The teams at the top of the payroll chart look relatively familiar, too, with Toronto FC and the LA Galaxy finishing first and second among all 24 teams in guaranteed compensation paid to players.



Don’t fall into the trap of thinking salaries are the only way teams spend, however. Transfer fees are a significant cost for MLS teams, and they are by no means created equally across the league. Atlanta may be sixth in the league in payroll, but they rise up the total spending table when outgoing transfer fees are taken into account. Unfortunately, transfer fees aren’t made public by...