"Winning MLS Cup brings only a couple guaranteed returns: the cup itself and a cash prize ($300,000, roughly the salary of one MLS backup defender). Historically, it has also ushered in a near-mandatory squad rebuild, a consequence of MLS's parity-driven design. With rare exceptions, great teams find it nigh-on-impossible to keep the band together, or to improve on what they already have."
"Not so for Inter Miami this year. After a slew of high-powered offseason additions capped by Friday's $15m capture of Monterrey striker German Berterame, a historically fortunate franchise has gotten even better; completely unlike the 29 MLS Cup champions that preceded them. The trend had persisted for obvious reasons. MLS is a league with a strict roster-building rulebook. Teams can sign six marquee players who hit the cap at different levels, categorized as either designated players (the Beckham rule) or U-22 initiative signings"
Winning MLS Cup yields the trophy and a $300,000 cash prize, but champions typically face near-mandatory squad rebuilds due to MLS's parity and roster rules. Salary-cap constraints and designated-player limits force teams to prioritize certain positions and often trade depth for marquee talent. Inter Miami bucked that pattern with several high-profile offseason additions, capped by a $15 million signing of Monterrey striker German Berterame. MLS allows six marquee slots split between designated players and U-22 initiative signings, creating difficult allocation choices that can reshape a team's potential while complicating roster retention as players seek raises.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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