Roger Espinoza has the distinction of being Sporting Kansas City’s highest-paid player in 2016, according to figures released Thursday by the MLS Players Union.
Espinoza is set to make $800,000 in guaranteed compensation, slightly ahead of figures for captain Matt Besler and winger Graham Zusi, whose total compensation salaries eclipse $730,000. Dom Dwyer will make $618,750 this season.
All four players have salaries north of designated-player status in MLS. The league allows each team only three designated players, meaning Sporting KC is required to use allocation money to buy down at least one of those salaries.
The guaranteed compensation figure includes all bonuses averaged out over the length of a player’s contract, according to the union.