Taking a big swing on a DP risks more than simply a missed opportunity or poorly spent cash. It can hamper youth development, too, as a promising young player can find his playing time blocked by an expensive import. Dallas’ Zanotta noted this was the case when they signed Franco Jara, only to see Ricardo Pepi improve dramatically and push for playing time.
“Jara was a great guy and he really helped us push our young players,” Zanotta said. “But we didn’t expect Pepi to have the success he had [so quickly]. It’s hard to to plan in advance.” He added that FCD have already decided not to sign a player because they felt one of their youth prospects in the same position was close to first-team playing time.
In the end, the DP rule remains a work in progress. Enacted to do one thing — land Beckham — it’s now being used in different ways by different teams. This represents progress, and teams building their rosters in various ways will increase efficiency within the league.
There will always be a need for MLS teams to be able to spend in excess of the salary cap, otherwise clubs will miss out of the possibility of getting a player of Messi’s caliber. At the same time, many are chaffing against league-imposed restrictions. “If you would be able make the total budget more flexible, that would be interesting to see,” Pelzer said. “This is why the MLS is so interesting, because there’s always room for improvement.”
Earlier this year, LAFC head coach Steve Cherundolo expressed a hope that the league would take the “next step” in loosening salary restrictions. Others hope this is the case too, both on and off the record. For the league to reach its potential, perhaps it’s time to think “outside the box” again.
