Major League Soccer Salaries 2010, The Top 50

Major League Soccer, on the heels of Beckham's arrival three years ago, is a league well on its way to financial health. With a new labor agreement in hand, Major league Soccer, not know for free spending, is opening up the purse strings.  Teams are now allowed to sign two designated players and, if they chose, pay for the right to add a third.  The minimum salary has been raised to $40,000, a vast improvement over the paltry $12,000 minimum offered in previous years   Here are the top fifty contracts as reported by the Players Union.

No one can deny that the David Beckham signing was a water shed moment for Major League Soccer. Although his field contributions have been hampered by injury and dual allegiance (AC Milan), no one can doubt his positive effect on the MLS bottom line. The media exposure garnered from the Beckham signing legitimized a league in desperate need of media attention. Currently Beckham is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, which will probably cause him to miss the entire season. Even so, his effectiveness for the league has already been banked. Even if he doesn't step on the field again, he is worth the money the LA Galaxy and league have invested in him.

Landon Donovan is the best player in Major League Soccer and the best American Soccer Player. Unfortunately, it is doubtful that he will stay around after the World Cup. His brief stint in the EPL with Everton only enhanced his reputation as first rate footballer. A good performance in South Africa will ultimately lead to transfer offers that the MLS may not be able to turn down.

Angel has been a model of consistency for the Red Bulls. Since his arrival three years ago, he done exactly what his large contract demands, score goals. Unfortunately, his goal scoring output has not effected the number of fans in the stands. Last year he suffered through an injury laden season, but still managed to have a productive season. This year, with opening of Red Bull Arena, and the rumoured arrival of Henri, Angel will be expected to increase his output to new levels.

De Guzman's signing, cobbled together by Mo Johnston, the controversial general manager of Toronto FC, has been nothing short of a disaster. In an effort to bolster a perennial lineup of underachievers, Johnston went out and signed a De Guzman, a pedestrian defensive midfielder out of La Liga in Spain. To be fair, De Guzman is a quality player in the MLS, but to pay him 1.7 million is a crime. Maybe De Guzman will prove Johnston a genius, but I'm betting against that. De Guzman gets my vote as the most overpaid player in the MLS.

Ljungberg, a Swedish international, in many ways was the perfect signing for Seattle last year. He brought experience and attacking class that one rarely sees in the MLS. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that things are going as well in 2010. Constant bickering and whining with officials, lack of scoring and poor team performance are taking the shine off the Ljungberg star. Unless things change, I do not see Freddie hanging around for another season.

Blaise Nkfuo, currently playing for the Swiss National Team in South Africa, is an unknown quantity in the MLS. In fact, due to his National Team responsibilities, he has not stepped on the MLS field as of yet. Seattle is in desperate need of some finishing, and it is hoped that Blaise, a proven goal scorer in Holland, can find the back of the net. If he can't, it's money down the crapper.

Shalrie Joseph, the best defensive midfielder in the league, is underpaid. There is no single player in the league, who is more valuable to his team. In 2009, if it had not been for Joseph, the Revs would have not won many games. He is a strong player, with a deft touch who is capable of covering large swaths of the field. Every Time I see him play, I wonder what would have happened if he would have been able to make the jump to European football. I believe he would have been a tremendous success.

Twellman, one of the most prolific scorers in MLS history, is overpaid. This is not to say that he has not been a good player in the league, but that he has not played in over a year and a half. His problems with concussions have ravaged his career, leaving many a fan to wonder, what ever became of him. Hopefully he can come back, but at this time, it looks doubtful.

If I was De Rosario, I would be scratching my head. Since coming to Toronto, he has been the man. He is Toronto's one constant threat to turn a game, to score a goal to rescue his team's endemic haplessness. What happens? His team goes out and signs a 1.7 million dollar defensive midfielder, giving the newbie quadruple what De Rosario makes. My, my what a situation. Despite this total injustice, De Rosario has responded by scoring big goals to open the 2010 campaign, lifting Toronto to new heights... a .500 record.

McBride, one of the most decorated US Internationals, is back in the MLS to close out his storied carrier. With the departure of Blanco, McBride will be expected to find the back of the net for Chicago. Unfortunately, though it pains me to write it, McBride is not the player he was. Yes, he can still give you that electric moment when he rises into the air and heads the ball into back of the net, but despite his work ethic and professionalism, he is on the downside of an illustrious career. I hope he rises above expectation, but this season, his last, will in my opinion, prove to be one to many.

#11 Conor Casey (Colorodo Rapids) - $350,000.00

#12 Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo) - $350,000.00

#13 Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew) - $320,000.00

#14 Carl Robinson (NY Red Bulls) - $315,000.00

#15 Bobby Convey (San Jose Earthquakes) - $307,500.00

#16 Pablo Mastroeni (Colorodo Rapids) - $300,500.00

#17 David Ferreira (FC Dallas) - $300,000.00

#18 Kasey Kellar (Seattle Sounders) - $300,000.00

#19 Fred Carreiro (Philadelphia Union) - $282,000.00

#20 Justin Mapp (Chicago Fire) - S280,000.00

#21 Salou Ibrahim (NY Red Bulls) - $264,000.00

#22 Emilio Luciano (DC United) - $253,333.33

#23 Javiar Morales (Real Salt Lake) - $252,500.00

#24 Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake) - $250,000.00

#25 Danny Califf (Philadelphia Union) - $250,000.00

#26 Jimmy Conrad (KC Wizards) - $244,000.00

#27 Guillermo Barros Schelotto (Columbus Crew) - $241,250.00

#28 Edgaras Jankuaskas (New England Revolution) - $240,000.00

#29 Jamison Olave (Real Salt Lake) - $240,000.00

#30 Nate Jaqua (Seattle Sounders FC) - $238,125.00

#31 Sacha Klejstan (Chivas USA) - $238,000.00 ***Transfered to Anderlecht (Belgium)***

#32 Jeffrey Cunningham (FC Dallas) - $230,125.00

#33 Davy Arnaud (KC Wizards) - $228,750.00

#34 Josh Wolff (KC Wizards) - $220,004.00

#35 Danny Allsopp (DC United) - $217,500.00

#36 Dilaver Duka (Columbus Crew) - $213,000.00

#37 Chad Barrett (Toronto FC) - $212,500.00

#38 Heath Pearce (FC Dallas) - $207,500.00

#39 Danny Mwanga (Philadelphia Union) - $206,250.00

#40 Troy Perkins (DC United) - $205,000.00

#41 Joe Cannon (San Jose Earthquakes) - $200,256.25

#42 Wilman Conde (Chicago Fire) - $200,000.00

#43 Michael Orozocco (Philadelphia Union) - $200,000.00

#44 Greg Berhalter (LA Galaxy) - $198,750.00

#45 Nick Garcia (Toronto FC) - $198,750.00

#46 Eddie Gavin (Columbus Crew) - $190,575.00

#47 Robert Boswell (Houston Dynamo) - $190,000.00

#48 Gino Padula (Columbus Crew) - $190,000.00

#49 Marco Perovic (DC United) - $190,000.00

#50 Brian Mullan (Houston Dynamo) - $189,812.50