MLS Free Agency

As players, coaches, league officers, and fans hope to start the 2015 Major League Soccer (MLS) season, the league could go on strike if a new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is signed before the start of its much over-hyped 20th season. As the MLS Players Union pushes for Free Agency as well as other topics, here is something I would like to see happen when the next MLS CBA roles around: The 3+1 Designated Player Rule.

The "Beckham Rule" began in 2007 when England national team, former Manchester United and Real Madrid player David Beckham joined the LA Galaxy. According to the MLS Rule Book, the Designated Player Rule

"...allows clubs to acquire up to three players whose salaries exceed their budget charges, with the club bearing financial responsibility for the amount of compensation above each player’s budget charge."

"Each club has two Designated Player slots and clubs are allowed to “purchase” a third Designated Player slot for a one-time fee of $150,000 that will be dispersed in the form of allocation money to all clubs that do not have three Designated Players." 

Currently at 2+1 (two slots plus option to "purchase" another slot), here is my 3+1 proposal.

Clubs have three guaranteed slots plus the option to purchase another. As Major League Soccer is an American and Canadian league, one of those four slots would be taken up by either an American or Canadian player. At the moment, 11 American players are considered Designated Players and no Canadian players. Headlined by Clint Dempsey of the Seattle Sounders ($6.7m in 2014), Michael Bradley of Toronto FC ($6.5m), and New England's Jermaine Jones, only Maurice Edu of Philadelphia ($650k) and DC's Eddie Johnson ($613k) missed out on the United States' 2014 World Cup squad.

9 of the 23 players are currently Designated Players

But what about Canada? MLS currently has 3 Canadian-based teams (Toronto, Vancouver, and Montreal). Toronto FC currently have two of the best players from the United States national team in Bradley and Jozy Altidore. Since the original DP rule, only 2 Canadian players have been considered Designated Players: Julian de Guzman and Dwayne De Rosario.

In my 3+1, American and Canadian players will take up one of the spots. My hope in this is that it not only grows the American and Canadian game but it also attracts top national talent to MLS. Canadian internationals Atiba Hutchinson (32, Besiktas) and Marcel de Jong (27, Augsburg) would most likely fall under the DP rule should they come to MLS. 

"I hear this 3+1 rule will lead us to the 2018 World Cup"

Despite being born in Canada, Junior Hoilett (24, QPR) has rejected call-ups to the Canadian national team and even if he has been in Europe since 2007, a return to Canada would not only be very nice for the league, but would also be an impressive signing for whichever club he would join. Since the start of the 2014-15 Premier League season, Hoilett has made 6 starts and a total of 16 appearances. Perhaps it could even have him consider joining the Canadian national team?

Even if this is just a simple idea (and the MLS Players Union probably won't be fighting for this), it could go a long way. From player acquisition to fan involvement, the idea of having a 3+1 Designated Player Rule with one player being either American or Canadian, this will simply grow the game in a growing North American soccer world. Leave us your thoughts down in the comment section about this proposed 3+1 idea.