Originally Posted by
Steve
Transfer deadlines exist in other leagues as well, we just play on a different schedule.
As for discovery claims, that is entirely due to single entity and cost control (which is actually quite a good idea).
Think of it this way, without the discovery system, player A wants to come to MLS. Teams B and C both want him. How do we settle this? Well, in any normal free market situation teams B and C both put offers on the table. Player A accepts the offer he likes the most. Done deal, everyone is happy.
So, what's the problem with this? The problem is, Teams B and C are actually owned by the same entity. So, when team B says "I'll give you 200k" and team C says "I'll give you 300k" they'll actually bidding against themselves. Player A might have been quite happy to play for 200k, but since both teams want him, he gets 300k, and the single entity of the league (remember, the league owns contracts and pays players) is out 100k WITHOUT gaining quality (since it could have achieved the same quality for 200k). That is just bad business.
So, why not just have the league negotiate a price with the player, then have the player decide which team to go to? That would destroy small market teams. If given a choice of SLC or NY, which would you choose? KC or LA? Obviously the big market teams will get all the prime players, which is something the league is trying to avoid.
So, essentially, it's quite a savy system they've come up with. My only problem with it is the name. "Discovery claim" makes it seem like the team actually discovered that player (who might be a world known name). In fact, it's closer to calling "dibbs" on a player.