This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Twice a year in Major League Soccer, the analyzing, bickering and speculating returns.
On Thursday, the biannual release of player salaries in MLS were unveiled by the MLS Players Union. It's the first time such salary figures — which many team and league executives claim aren't 100 percent accurate — were released in 2016.
The most recent release was Sept. 15, 2015.
Real Salt Lake checks in at No. 13 out of 20 in team payrolls in 2016 with a reported $5,337,500 in base salary and $5,956,899.50 in total guaranteed compensation for the entirety of the roster. The same spot it was last September. According to the Players Union, guaranteed compensation figures include base salary and guaranteed bonuses averaged during the entire length of a player's contract.
Toronto FC, No. 1 on the list, has a combined base salary of $19,534,650 and a guaranteed compensation of $21,798,508.47.
Toronto finished a sliver ahead of New York City FC in guaranteed compensation. NYCFC has $21,127,776.63, but edges Toronto in combined base salary at $20,603,922.54. No. 3 is the L.A. Galaxy ($16,010,500 in base salary & $18,105.736.04 in guaranteed compensation), No. 4 is Orlando City ($10,656,500 in base salary & $11,554,420.83 in guaranteed compensation) and Seattle Sounders round out the Top 5 ($9,479,113.50 in base salary and $10,728,811.09 in guaranteed compensation.
The Rapids vaulted 11 spots from last year to No. 6. Colorado's base salary rings in at $7,715.259.66, while it's guaranteed compensation is $8,493,586.54.
Fourteen of the league's 20 clubs have at least one player making a minimum of $1 million annually — that includes RSL. Forward Juan Manuel Martinez is the 15th-highest paid player in the league at $1.458 million.
Orlando City's Kaká remains No. 1 with $7.167 million, followed by Toronto FC's Sebastian Giovinco at $7.115 million, Michael Bradley at $6.5 million, L.A. Galaxy's Steven Gerrard at $6.132 million and NYCFC's Frank Lampard at $6 million, who rounds out the league's Top 5.
The RSL's list of salaries of guaranteed compensation below:
» Juan Manuel Martinez: $1,458,666.67 (Designated Player)
» Kyle Beckerman: $750,000
» Javier Morales: $590,000
» Nick Rimando: $420,000
» Chris Wingert: $235,000
» Sunday Stephen: $233,000
» Tony Beltran: $220,950
» Jamison Olave: $215,000
» Yura Movsisyan: $200,000 (Designated Player on year-long loan from Spartak Moscow)
» Joao Plata: $175,000 (Designated Player)
» Demar Phillips: $135,333.33
» Omar Holness: $123,500 (Generation adidas contract)
» Justen Glad: $111,000
» Jordan Allen: $110,000
» Jeff Attinella: $95,083.33
» Luke Mulholland: $94,750
» Aaron Maund: $88,449.50
» Boyd Okwuonu: $86,000
» John Stertzer: $75,166.67
» Sebastian Saucedo: $73,000 (on year-long loan at Veracruz)
» Devon Sandoval: $67,500
» Lalo Fernadez: $63,000
» Emery Welshman: $62,500
» Danilo Acosta: $62,500
» Phanuel Kavita: $51,500
-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani