3rd Degree


FC Dallas Trades Johnson to Kansas City

An allocation and a half in return will help alleviate cap trouble.

February 14th, 2006 . 1:36 pm . By: Buzz Carrick

As predicted by numerous followers of the franchise, FC Dallas today unloaded US International Eddie Johnson to the Kansas City Wizards in a cap clearing move.  In return FC Dallas receives a major allocation and part of a second allocation.  Combined with the partial allocation FCD received when it sent Carey Talley and Scott Garlick to Real Salt Lake, the Hoops are now holding in the neighborhood of $400,000 in allocation money.
 
“This was the best option available to us,” said Coach Colin Clarke at training this morning.  “It was a very difficult decision but Eddie was not going to be here a whole lot this season and we had to make a move.  On paper we had six big contracts that we cold do something with, but not really. The reality is most of those were hard to do anything with and this is the one move we could make that got us something in return.”
 
As 3rd Degree spelled out earlier in the offseason FCD was in real cap trouble due to the escalation of Johnson’s contract and the likely high cap number it would take to re-sign Carlos Ruiz.  With Ruiz signing above the cap max number the situation for FCD was made difficult, and then was compounded by the cap going up. 
 
According to various reports the MLS cap number for 2006 will be $1.91 million, that’s in increase of roughly $100,000 over last years cap.  However the individual player max went from $280,000 to $350,000.  According to the salary list published by Soccer American, Johnson was in the neighborhood of $100,000 in salary prior to his new contract last year, which is close enough to his cap number for this discussion.  3rd Degree had previously learned that Ruiz was near $150,000 in 05 cap. With both players making the new max of $350,000 in 06 rather than the $280,000 of 05, the increase for them in cap hit is $140,000 just from the max number increase alone (350-280 x2).  That’s a number greater than the overall cap increase ($140k>$100k).  When you combine their overall cap increases it’s a staggering hit of $450,000 for the two players.
 
That’s a major cap problem that could only be remedied by a large move of some kind.  With FCD having yet to exercise the allocations in hand, they are still technically over the cap, but don’t have to be compliant till March 1st.  Clarke says the team is not set yet. “It’s going to be good for us to have some money left to do something during the year.  Last year we didn’t have that extra money.  This year at midseason, or even late in the season, we will have that flexibility. 
 
The timing of Kenny Cooper’s arrival will help fill the void left by Johnson’s departure, but Clarke was says that may not be enough. “Kenny is a replacement for Eddie body wise, but I would like to get another young forward.  One of the draft picks might be able to contribute, but I’d like to find someone with a little more experience who can help us strengthen the forward position.  There is a chance that Mina might make the World Cup, so we may need someone.”
 
Clarke also indicated the team was making progress on the Argentine player it had targeted.  “We are waiting on the paper work.  You know that youth international compensation rule?  We have to get releases from his two former clubs that they are not seeking compensation for him leaving.  As soon as we get that paper work to New York we will be good to go.”

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