Breaking Down The Union’s Current Roster, Salary Cap And Answering Questions Surrounding It

Here's the current breakdown of the Philadelphia Union's roster, including salary distinctions (on/off budget, international, etc players). The following information is correct up until July 19, based on information from a league source:

After the jump, we break down what this all means…

• With the release of Thorne Holder, the Union now have one open international spot and one discovery claim left.
• The Union are now down to 16 senior players, which means that the team will continue to be penalized because it is carrying less than 18 of them. “A minimum salary budget charge will be imputed against a team’s salary budget for each unfilled senior roster slot below 18.”
• Based on the above information, the Union are currently down $126,000 in salary cap room. $42,000 was lost from only carrying 17 senior players (after the Jordan Harvey trade), $42,000 is lost from releasing Holder (all MLS contracts are fully guaranteed after July 1) and $42,000 is currently lost – pending a signing – because Holder was a member of the senior team, leaving the Union with two less players than the minimum 18.
• Houapeu has not yet received his green card. His status on that front is still unknown. His distinction as an “apprentice” means that he makes less than MLS minimum salary, which is $42,000. Houapeu’s salary is listed as $32,604.
• There is still one supplemental or “off budget” roster spot left. It was vacated when Chris Agorsor was released.
• Since the team is not using roster spots “29/30,” $70,000 of allocation money is currently in the Union’s possession. Even if a player is brought into the first team/senior squad, the Union will still be down $14,000 after factoring the added $70,000 into the lost $84,000.
• MLS cap this season is right around $2.67 million and the Union’s 16 senior roster players are worth $2,214,168.17, sans Paunovic’s salary which is as of now unknown. Add in the loss of $42,000 by waiving Holder after July 1, the Union have up to $413,831.83 to spend on players for the rest of the season.