Philadelphia Union fans, They Signed a Player

So it happened Philadelphia Union fans, they signed a player. Monday it was announced that Steven Vitória has come to the team on loan from Benfica of Portugal’s Primeira Liga, pending receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.

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Then out came the details and you start scratching your head like you’re in need of some Head and Shoulders. Ah MLS, you just love to keep us guessing and frustrated all at the same time. So according to Jonathan Tannewald on Twitter the Union had to throw a little allocation money to the Vancouver Whitecaps. At the time he wasn’t sure of the amount but he tweeted this little gem right here.

"As I try to confirm the allocation money in the deal, my understanding is the minimum sum required in any such transaction is $50,000.— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) February 10, 2015So what is the Discovery claim you ask? Well this is the rule from Roster and Rules and Regulations on MLS Press Box.(E) DISCOVERY SIGNINGSClubs may make discovery claims on players not yet under MLS contract who are not subject to the allocation ranking or lottery mechanisms. Each club has the opportunity to make six discovery signings per season (expansion teams may make 10 discovery signings in their inaugural season). A club may have up to 10 discovery claims on unsigned players at any time and may remove or add players at any time. The last day for discovery player signings is September 15, 2014 – coinciding with the roster freeze date and trade deadline. The six discovery signings can be used to fill senior roster spots only. If multiple clubs claim the same player using a discovery, the club that filed the claim first will have first rights to the player. Discovery claims expire following each season. If the League and player are unable to reach an agreement during the season, the club that first filed the discovery retains the right of first refusal in the event the player is later signed by the League. Special Discovery Players: Each team may have only one Special Discovery signing per year. Special Discovery signings  will occupy one of a team’s six Discovery Player slots. Teams may amortize the total amount of acquisition costs over the term of the player’s contract as long as the amortized amount and the player’s salary do not exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge.Note: To protect interests of MLS clubs in scouting and negotiations with prospective players, the League office will not publicize the names of players on club discovery lists, nor specify if a discovery claim has been filed on a particular player.All right do you have all that? So what does it mean to the Union you might ask and why should you care? Well after having to put up with the stink of smelling like a rotten egg as it seemed we were the last team to sign a player; we now have less money for a striker. A rule that was designed to keep players from being free agents and picking the team they wanted to play for; might cost us the striker we as fans yearn for. The crazy thing is that the rule didn’t work and it’s hurting the team he signed with.Live Feed philadelphia unionMLS Elevates International Standing with September Call-UpsMLS MultiplexInter Miami MLS Cup Odds Get BoostInter HeronWhat to Expect: Inter Miami Hits the Big AppleInter HeronThe Contrast of MLS: Ilsinho's Testimony Reveals Substantial Differences in American SoccerMLS MultiplexWe Can Enjoy Inter Miami’s Title, But More Work On the TableInter HeronUnion Considering Coach Change After Leagues Cup LossMLS MultiplexVitória had rejected signing with the Whitecaps last year but somehow they hold his right this year because they made an offer he wouldn’t take. So he ends up with a team he is willing to play with just like in free agency and the bidding war that MLS doesn’t want teams to have might have happened as the Union might have offered more and had to give allocation money to Vancouver.If I’m Bob Foose, head of Major League Soccer Players Union, and we have a federal mediator in the room, this is the signing I’m gone to lay down on the table and point out how it doesn’t work. Did it stop him from playing on the team he wanted? No. He’s on loan so I would imagine that his salary hasn’t changed as the Union came to an agreement with his former team on compensation. The only thing that happened here is the Union just lost allocation money for a striker to the Whitecaps for a player that wouldn’t play for them. Does this help parity in any way?It’s hard enough to compete with an ownership group that can’t compete with the big boys; but to have to pay a team like Vancouver who is a little better off than the Union is crazy. Free agency, the DP rule and a cap can work just fine in MLS with single entity in my opinion. The Cap keeps teams from spending whatever they want on all but three players. After that its smart management that gets players on a team as they have to fit in the budget.Now the question is can they sign a striker and do they have to worry about another discovery claim? Think about that for a minute? If another discovery claim is in the equation and cost the team $50,000 for each player and the Union goes out and signs a striker for $500,000 as a DP, how has this rule helped the player or the league? The Union could have used the $100,000 towards paying down the player’s salary and saved the DP spot or go out and get another player with a $100,000 towards the salary for a better defender that is left footed.More from Playing for 90Alexia Putellas reaches 400 games with BarcelonaEverything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’Barcelona put five past Real BetisManchester City suffer but come away with win over West HamBaffling Liga MX ruling strips Puebla of a hard-earned victoryIs this rule helping to improve the team? Is this rule helping to improve the quality of play in the league? Has it stopped Vitoria from picking the team he wanted for the money that he wanted as a player on loan with an option? Should the Union start scouting players who might be attractive to NY, LA, Sea or Tor so they can accumulate allocation money in the future for players they have no intention of signing?End this rule in the next CBA and let’s get on with the 2015 MLS season on time. Figure out how to make free agency work and raise the cap so players can afford to live by themselves on the salary they make in the communities they play in. This will create a better league and move it one small step closer to what Don Garber stated was a goal for the league by being one of the top leagues by 2022.Next: NYCFC Sign Javier CallePublished on 02/10/2015 at 11:02 AM EDTLast updated on 02/10/2015 at 12:05 PM EDT As I try to confirm the allocation money in the deal, my understanding is the minimum sum required in any such transaction is $50,000.— Jonathan Tannenwald (@thegoalkeeper) February 10, 2015(E) DISCOVERY SIGNINGSClubs may make discovery claims on players not yet under MLS contract who are not subject to the allocation ranking or lottery mechanisms. Each club has the opportunity to make six discovery signings per season (expansion teams may make 10 discovery signings in their inaugural season). A club may have up to 10 discovery claims on unsigned players at any time and may remove or add players at any time. The last day for discovery player signings is September 15, 2014 – coinciding with the roster freeze date and trade deadline. The six discovery signings can be used to fill senior roster spots only. If multiple clubs claim the same player using a discovery, the club that filed the claim first will have first rights to the player. Discovery claims expire following each season. If the League and player are unable to reach an agreement during the season, the club that first filed the discovery retains the right of first refusal in the event the player is later signed by the League. Special Discovery Players: Each team may have only one Special Discovery signing per year. Special Discovery signings  will occupy one of a team’s six Discovery Player slots. Teams may amortize the total amount of acquisition costs over the term of the player’s contract as long as the amortized amount and the player’s salary do not exceed the Maximum Salary Budget Charge.Note: To protect interests of MLS clubs in scouting and negotiations with prospective players, the League office will not publicize the names of players on club discovery lists, nor specify if a discovery claim has been filed on a particular player."