In Major League Soccer, perhaps the most important aspect of building a title-contending team is the construction of the roster. Unlike in other leagues throughout the world where money can be lavishly splashed at every position, there are limitations on how the investment can be made in MLS.
Specifically, there are three players that do not count against the spending cap. These are known as Designated Players. Their wages are not considered against the cap, allowing teams to rival the wages of world football in the process.
Naturally, the best teams tend to be those that have the three most effective DPs.