NEW YORK — When it comes to Major League Soccer’s payroll, the Rapids are pretty close to being the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. One exception: The Rapids are champions.
Despite the average MLS salary rising 12 percent (from $138,169 in 2010 to $154,852 this year), the Lamar Hunt Trophy-winning Rapids are 15th among the league’s 18 teams at $105,769, trailed only by San Jose ($100,399), Chivas USA ($99,673) and Portland ($94,734).
The increase in average salary can largely be attributed to Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez joining David Beckham from European clubs.
With the addition of expansion Portland and Vancouver and an increase in rosters, the number of players listed has risen from 406 last year to 518 this season. The median income — the point where half the players make above and below — is $80,050, down from $88,000 two years ago.
Beckham, in the final season of his five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy, remains the league’s highest-paid player at $6.5 million, according to figures released by the MLS Players Union.
Henry is second at $5.6 million and Marquez is third at $4.6 million after they left Barcelona last summer to sign with the New York Red Bulls.
Homegrown forward Conor Casey rakes in the highest salary among the Rapids players at $400,000.
