As the 2023 Major League Soccer season fast approaches, several teams are looking to sign a Designated Player. Per league rules, a team can only hold three DPs at a time.
The Designated Player Rule allows clubs to acquire up to three players whose total compensation and acquisition costs exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge, with the club bearing financial responsibility for the amount of compensation above each player’s Salary Budget Charge. Designated Players may be new players signed to MLS via the Allocation Ranking List or the Discovery Process, or they may be re-signed existing players on a club’s roster.
Here are the teams will open DP slots ahead of the 2023 campaign.
The LA Galaxy could be on the hunt for a Designated player.
The Western Conference team has one DP slot open, after trading forward Kevin Cabral to the Colorado Rapids earlier this week. Cabral also occupied a Under 22 Initiative position on the roster, factoring into his previous role at the team.
It’s unlikely the Galaxy will chase after another forward, as attacking players Chicharito and Douglas Costa currently hold the team’s two other Designated Player positions.
But as one of the league’s most-recognizable brands, anything can happen.
Toronto FC currently have one DP spot open, with Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Bernardeschi occupying the other two.
After missing out on the Major League Soccer playoffs for the second consecutive year, team president Bill Manning addressed the possibility of bringing on a third Designated Player to boost the club.
“We’re not going to go out and sign a Lorenzo, but we’re going to sign the right player,” Manning said. “Whatever wiggle room we need to make there, our organization has always been supportive of getting the right player.”
With several high-quality offensive players on the roster, Toronto may just look to an experienced defense to strengthen the backline. Though the team originally tried out the tactic with Mexican center back Carlos Salcedo, his quick departure after six months failed to solve anything.
Toronto FC concluded the 2022 campaign with a goal difference of negative 17, conceding a shocking 66 goals.
The Chicago Fire need a Designated Player to improve.
The team concluded the…
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