Worst MLS contracts, 2026
Costs more than the play it buys. Moving one takes a sweetener: a pick or a prospect. 75 players are under water; the 50 worst here.
Updated November 6, 2026.
| # | Player | Team | Cap hit | Yrs | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Steven Alzate CM, 28 |  Atlanta United FC | $1.38M | 4 | −$1.8M |
| 2 | Luca De La Torre CM, 28 |  Charlotte FC | $1.61M | 4 | −$1.6M |
| 3 | Facundo Mura RB, 27 |  Inter Miami CF | $1.03M | 3 | −$1.4M |
| 4 | Herman Johansson RM, 29 |  FC Dallas | $0.74M | 4 | −$0.7M |
| 5 | Harry Toffolo LB, 31 | Charlotte FC | $1.02M | 3 | −$0.7M |
| 6 | Dominik Fitz M, 27 |  Minnesota United FC | $0.89M | 2 | −$0.6M |
| 7 | Jakob Glesnes CB, 32 |  LA Galaxy | $1.27M | 3 | −$0.6M |
| 8 | Hernán López M, 26 |  San Jose Earthquakes | $1.02M | 2 | −$0.6M |
| 9 | André Franco AM, 28 |  Chicago Fire FC | $1.31M | 3 | −$0.6M |
| 10 | Nariman Akhundzade F, 22 |  Columbus Crew | $0.63M | 2 | −$0.5M |
| 11 | Andrés Reyes D, 27 |  San Diego FC | $0.88M | 2 | −$0.5M |
| 12 | James Rodríguez F, 35 | Minnesota United FC | $0.68M | 2 | −$0.5M |
| 13 | Artem Smoliakov D, 23 |  Los Angeles FC | $0.61M | 2 | −$0.5M |
| 14 | Peter Stroud CM, 24 | Minnesota United FC | $0.22M | 5 | −$0.4M |
| 15 | Juan Berrocal D, 27 | Atlanta United FC | $1.42M | 2 | −$0.4M |
| 16 | Sebastian Schonlau D, 32 |  Vancouver Whitecaps FC | $0.78M | 2 | −$0.4M |
| 17 | José Caicedo DM, 24 |  Portland Timbers FC | $1.08M | 5 | −$0.4M |
| 18 | Lucas Halter CB, 26 |  Houston Dynamo FC | $1.42M | 5 | −$0.4M |
| 19 | Roman Bürki GK, 35 |  St. Louis City SC | $2.75M | 2 | −$0.4M |
| 20 | Juan Arias D, 22 |  Real Salt Lake | $0.57M | 2 | −$0.4M |
| 21 | Jack Maher CB, 27 |  Nashville SC | $1.00M | 1 | −$0.4M |
| 22 | Olivier Mbaizo D, 29 |  Philadelphia Union | $0.50M | 2 | −$0.3M |
| 23 | Enea Mihaj CB, 28 | Atlanta United FC | $1.56M | 3 | −$0.3M |
| 24 | Nehuen Benedetti CM, 21 |  New York Red Bulls | $0.19M | 4 | −$0.3M |
| 25 | Andrés Herrera RB, 28 | Columbus Crew | $0.73M | 4 | −$0.3M |
| 26 | DeJuan Jones LB, 29 | San Jose Earthquakes | $0.90M | 1 | −$0.3M |
| 27 | Igor Jesus DM, 23 | Los Angeles FC | $0.69M | 2 | −$0.3M |
| 28 | Reggie Cannon RB, 28 |  Colorado Rapids | $0.84M | 2 | −$0.3M |
| 29 | Joedrick Pupe D, 29 | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | $0.49M | 2 | −$0.3M |
| 30 | Matheus Pereira LB, 25 |  Toronto FC | $0.65M | 3 | −$0.3M |
| 31 | Hamzat Ojediran DM, 22 | Colorado Rapids | $0.88M | 4 | −$0.3M |
| 32 | Emiro Garcés D, 25 | LA Galaxy | $0.52M | 2 | −$0.3M |
| 33 | Jackson Yueill CM, 29 |  New England Revolution | $1.14M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 34 | Connor Ronan M, 28 | Colorado Rapids | $0.56M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 35 | Aaron Long CB, 34 | Los Angeles FC | $1.05M | 1 | −$0.2M |
| 36 | Bongokuhle Hlongwane RW, 26 | Minnesota United FC | $1.14M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 37 | Marcelo Morales D, 23 | New York Red Bulls | $0.47M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 38 | Pedro de la Vega RW, 25 |  Seattle Sounders FC | $1.38M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 39 | Joao Ortíz DM, 30 | Portland Timbers FC | $0.60M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 40 | Louicius Don Deedson D, 25 | FC Dallas | $0.45M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 41 | Strahinja Tanasijević D, 29 | New York City FC | $0.37M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 42 | Robert Voloder CB, 25 | New York Red Bulls | $0.69M | 3 | −$0.2M |
| 43 | Duncan McGuire CF, 25 | Houston Dynamo FC | $0.92M | 4 | −$0.2M |
| 44 | Ted Ku-Dipietro F, 24 | Colorado Rapids | $0.56M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 45 | Gonzalo Lujan CB, 25 | Inter Miami CF | $0.92M | 2 | −$0.2M |
| 46 | Matt Polster DM, 33 | New England Revolution | $0.73M | 1 | −$0.1M |
| 47 | Samuel Piette DM, 31 |  CF Montréal | $0.62M | 2 | −$0.1M |
| 48 | Diego Chará CM, 40 | Portland Timbers FC | $0.39M | 2 | −$0.1M |
| 49 | Maximiliano Falcón CB, 29 | Inter Miami CF | $0.67M | 3 | −$0.1M |
| 50 | Diego Borges CB, 21 |  Sporting Kansas City | $0.33M | 5 | −$0.1M |