A few people have tried to figure out the Vancouver Whitecaps (and other teams) salary cap situation. In the past this was an almost impossible endeavour as so little was released about salaries and MLS funny money! However, there have been attempts to make finances more transparent. In fact, this season they even identified how much General Allocation Money teams get for missing the playoffs and making CONCACAF (in the past it was a mystery number).

Major League Soccer teams are required to be 'roster compliant' by March 1st, which means that the team needs to fit their total salary under the cap. With that in mind, here is a recent breakdown of the Vancouver Whitecaps. If you notice an error, please point it out and I can edit the chart. I have also included a little bit of information at the bottom on the money transactions and a few 'decisions' that I made on roster construction.

A few reminders of roster requirements.

20 Senior roster positions that are included in salary cap calculation.

4 Supplemental roster positions that are excluded in salary cap calculation. Player can be Homegrown (HG), Generation Adidas (GA), or Senior player (make minimum $65,000 salary).

4 Reserve roster positions that are excluded in salary cap calculation. Player cannot be GA or Senior player (minimum $53,000 salary). Must be 24 years or younger.

2 Homegrown roster positions that are excluded in salary cap calculation.

UPDATED ROSTER FILE (MARCH 9TH, 2017)

Whitecaps_Roster_2017.0.xls

VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 2017 MLS ROSTER as of 2.28.17 Last Name First Name Roster Position 2016 Salary (as of 09/15/16) 2017 Estimated Salary 2017 Cap Hit NOTE Senior Roster (DP/INT) Laba Matias Senior Roster (DP/INT) $560,000 $720,500 $480,625 Montero Fredy Senior Roster (DP) --- --- $480,625 Ousted David Senior Roster (INT) $360,000 $381,600 $381,600 Techera Cristian Senior Roster (INT) $320,000 $339,200 $339,200 Reyna Yordy Senior Roster (INT) --- $250,000 $150,000 TAM buy-down to $150,000 Minimum Waston Kendall Senior Roster (INT) $300,000 $318,000 $318,125 Bolanos Christian Senior Roster (INT) $250,000 $265,000 $265,000 Mezquida Nicolas Senior Roster (INT) $88,000 $93,280 $93,280 Shea Brek Senior Roster (DOM) $550,000 $583,000 $150,000 TAM buy-down to $150,000 for New DP Signing Williams Sheanon Senior Roster (DOM) $162,500 $172,250 $172,250 Harvey Jordan Senior Roster (DOM) $165,000 $174,900 $174,900 Manneh Kekuta Senior Roster (DOM) $127,500 $135,150 $135,150 Edgar David Senior Roster (DOM) $105,000 $111,300 $111,300 Hurtado Erik Senior Roster (DOM) $86,091 $91,256 $91,256 Parker Tim Senior Roster (DOM) $66,000 $69,960 $69,960 Rosales Mauro Senior Roster (DOM) $62,500 $65,000 $65,000 Jacobson Andrew Senior Roster (DOM) $62,500 $65,000 $65,000 Tornaghi Paolo Senior Roster (DOM) $62,500 $65,000 $65,000 de Jong Marcel Senior Roster (DOM) $62,500 $65,000 $65,000 Dean Christian Supplemental (GA) $110,000 $116,600 $0 Teibert Russell Supplemental (HG) $115,000 $121,900 $0 Greig Kyle Supplemental (Senior) --- $65,000 $0 Flores Deybi Supplemental (Senior/INT) $62,500 $65,000 $0 Seiler Cole Reserve (DRAFT) $51,500 $53,000 $0 Newinski Jacob Reserve (DRAFT) --- $53,000 $0 Richey Spencer Reserve (DRAFT) --- $53,000 $0 Davies Alphonso Reserve (HG) $62,500 $66,250 $0 Bustos Marco Homegrown $62,500 $66,250 $0 McKendry Ben Homegrown $52,500 $55,650 $0 Levis Brett Off-Cap (INJ) $62,500 $65,000 $0 Adekugbe Sam Off-Cap (LOAN/HG) $70,000 $74,200 $0 2016 Salary Cap: $3,660,000 2017 Salary Cap: $3,845,000 $446,729 Includes Remaining GAM (but not TAM)

As we do not know 2017 salaries yet, the 2017 estimates are based on a 6% raise (as that was the average in previous years). Players on Senior minimum contracts did not receive raise.

Used TAM to buy-down Shea. This only happens IF the Whitecaps sign another DP. Based on remaining salary cap, this can only happen in the summer.

According to Vancouver Whitecaps website, Christian Dean is still listed as a Generation Adidas player. Thus, he is on the Supplemental roster.

Brett Levis is listed on long-term injury and Sam Adekugbe is on-loan and thus not included on the main roster.

Remaining salary cap space includes $275,000 in General Allocation Money (see below) but not remaining Targeted Allocation Money.

2017 General Allocation Money Acquisition of GAM Base Amount $ 200,000 Missing Playoffs $ 200,000 Champions League (QF) $ 66,666 Trade with Montreal $ 75,000 March 1st, 2017 Total Available $ 541,666 Use of GAM Williams Sheanon Trade with Houston $ 200,000 December 13th, 2016 Total Used $ 200,000





Amount of GAM and TAM available and that used is an estimate as prior to this year we do not know how much was traded.

Williams trade came prior to the new MLS policy to disclose GAM and TAM in trades. It has been estimated in multiple locations to be around $200,000. That leaves around $275,000 remaining.

Salaries Info: https://www.mlsplayers.org/salary_info.html Roster 'Positions' http://www.mlssoccer.com/rosters/2017/vancouver-whitecaps Roster Rules http://www.mlssoccer.com/league/official-rules/mls-roster-rules-and-regulations List of TAM Players https://www.mlssoccer.com/media-resources/2017-targeted-allocation-money-players TAM Rules http://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2016/12/09/mls-announces-increase-targeted-allocation-money-2017 GAM Rules http://www.mlssoccer.com/glossary/general-allocation-money?amp

Of course, this entire thing is an estimate. There are plenty of unknowns, but they at least give us a starting point for understanding the current roster. Thoughts?

For those wanting to play around with the chart, I have included it here. It also has some roster depth charts and transactions made. Feel free to modify some of the numbers if you feel they should be changed (less conservative or players in different roster positions).