Price Tags: Toja at $200K, Gavin at $80K

According to the Oct. 1 MLS Players Union Salary List, Revolution allocation pick Juan Toja is the second-highest salaried player on the club, with a figure listed at $200,000.

Toja was signed by the club on Aug. 27 via the allocation process, which allows teams, via lottery, to acquire a former MLS player who returns to the League after having gone to a club abroad for a transfer fee. The Revolution held the first selection in the process when they selected Toja, who became available after he left Greek club Aris earlier this year.

The 27-year-old Colombian played for FC Dallas from 2007-08 before he was tranferred to Steaua Bucuresti (Romania). During his stint in Dallas, he earned an annual salary of $100,000.

The only other addition to the Revolution’s salary list since Aug. 1 – the date of the previous ledger – is midfielder Blair Gavin, who’s figure is listed at $80,000.

Gavin was acquired by the club on Aug. 1 in a trade that sent longtime Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph to Chivas USA. The Revolution also received Chivas USA’s natural second-round SuperDraft selection in 2013, as well as allocation money.

Benny Feilhaber remains the highest-paid Revolution player with a salary of $446,000.

5 Comments

1. 

   Chris B

   October 5, 2012 at 3:50 pm

   This doesn’t tell the whole story. The numbers in the article are guaranteed compensation. The base salary (which is closer to the salary cap hit) for Toja is $180,000 (still high though) and Gavin’s is like $60,000 which is actually very fair because he was Generation Adidas as a rookie and is in his third year in the league.

   This tell us Gavin is fine where he is (needs playing time though) and Toja better get fit or now the fans can rightfully complain because of his high salary.

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2. 

   W Peter Jones

   October 5, 2012 at 8:47 pm

   Hey there Chris you have to give Toja some time he is not 100% fit Lets wait to next season– Benny $446,000 v Lee Ngyen $50,000 plus who is the better player?? As I have said previousely Benny is over rated and over paid.Lets trade Benny ?

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3. 

   Brian O'Connell

   October 5, 2012 at 10:45 pm

   Hey Chris,
   I see what you mean. Like you said, Toja’s number does seem a bit high. Granted, that was probably part and parcel of acquiring him via the allocation order. And this may be just me, but I think it also signals two things: 1. That they realized the undeniable need to sign a tone-setter like Toja in the wake of the Shalrie trade and 2. That the team realized it may have made a mistake with Benny, and this was their chance at a do-over. Just my take.

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4. 

   Chris B

   October 6, 2012 at 12:19 pm

   W Peter Jones- I’m definitely trying to reserve judgement for Toja for when he’s fully fit but what I’m really saying is if he doesn’t impress when he’s fit then the fans will have a valid argument with the Front Office about his salary. I also think Lee Nguyen deserves six figures, I’ve been a strong advocate for that. Finally I agree with you and Brian about Benny. It may be do-over time. If Toja impresses then trading Feilhaber will be good for both us and him. It really depends on if the team makes the right trade though, which I’m not confident it can do.

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5. 

   W Peter Jones

   October 6, 2012 at 5:47 pm

   Hi there, We have to give Toja a chance, he cannot be as overated as BENNY ? Toja is getting paid peanuts $200.00 to what the New York Red Bulls are paying the three top DP in there millions we will never see the Revs pay millions for a DP player, and still the New York Red Bulls have not won any hadware

   Reply