TFC’s trophy hunt continues
Toronto FC says the hunt for trophies will continue next season. And it is willing to spend more money to do so.
Team president Bill Manning says the newly crowned MLS champions will use the extra US$4 million in targeted allocation money the league is permitting each of the next two seasons: $1.2 million in league money and up to $2.8 million in club-funded money. That amount could jump to $5.2 million in 2018 if a club elects to bring forward the league-allocated $1.2 million for 2019.
That money can be used to pay down the acquisition cost and salary hit of elite players who are not given designated player status. Toronto used TAM this season to great effect by bringing in Spanish playmaker Victor Vazquez.
A team can use TAM to buy down to $150,000 the salary cap hit of a player making up to $1.5 million.
Toronto already has the league’s highest payroll with $19.2 million in salaries alone this season for Vazquez ($700,000) and designated players Sebastian Giovinco ($7.115 million), Michael Bradley ($6.5 million) and Jozy Altidore ($4.875 million).
The Philip F. Anschutz Trophy has already been installed in the MLS Cup trophy case that had previously been empty in the players’ lounge at the Toronto training centre. Now the only empty spot is the space for the CONCACAF Champions League.
GM Tim Bezbatchenko says he expects minimal roster turnover, although he acknowledged the team is right at the salary cap and may have to make some room.
“Inevitably we’ll have to shed players,” he said at the team’s endof-season media availability.
“We’re close to being maxed out,” he said of the salary cap.