Toronto FC and Michael Bradley: The finances must win out

After failing to trigger a $6.5 million 2020 option in MLS Cup at the weekend, Michael Bradley will be a free agent this winter. In the debate of whether Toronto FC should bring back their club captain, the finances must win out.

Well, the 2019 season is over and done with. In the end, Toronto FC came one game away from an unlikely and yet sensational end to the year. After suffering tumultuous form throughout the regular season, the Reds qualified for the postseason as the number four seed in the Eastern Conference.

They then put together a superb playoff run, including upsetting the first and second seed in the East on the road in successive matches. And in MLS Cup, despite ultimately falling short against the Seattle Sounders, Toronto were the superior team throughout and can be proud of their efforts.

And at the heart of this sensational playoff run was Michael Bradley, a stalwart of this latest insanely successful Toronto FC era. The American was the best player on the pitch in MLS Cup, helped navigate a controlling and suffocating central midfield throughout the postseason, and proved his importance to the team with his dictating displays.

Had Toronto FC won MLS Cup, a 2020 year-long option would have been activated in Bradley’s contract worth $6.5 million. As it is, Bradley will be a free agent this offseason. Toronto FC are still expected to bring back one of their greatest ever players and club captain, but there is no certainty in modern-day football.

A debate should be had regarding the financial viability of investing in Bradley again. While Bradley has been integral to many a great Toronto team, his efficacy is on the decline and, at 32 years of age, there is decreasing long-term benefit from investing heavily in the midfielder.

Moreover, last season, only Zlatan Ibrahimovic was paid more than Bradley, per the MLS Players Association. While, as a Designated Player, Bradley’s wage will only charge Toronto the same as any other DP, $481,000 per year, there are financial restrictions of the club. They can only afford to shell out so much cash. Toronto FC already have the highest wage bill in MLS and Bradley’s $6.5 million salary is a major part of that.

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Nevertheless, as reported by The Athletic in October in a Question and Answer with the midfielder, Bradley is willing to drop below the DP budget charge with Target Allocation Money. When asked about the possibility, Bradley said:

"“Yeah, I didn’t come here for the money and I won’t stay or leave for the money. That’s not what this has ever been about. I came here because I saw the opportunity to come to a club and a city that I thought had incredible potential. I felt in a lot of ways that the city and the club were looking for someone like me and I was looking for something like them.”"

So Bradley is willing to return on a cheaper contract, but how much can Toronto negotiate him down and at what point does his contract become palatable? With Alejandro Pozuelo and Jozy Altidore already under contract next season, two of the three DP slots are already filled. I am sure General Manager Ali Curtis will be wanting to add some serious talent to his squad and that third DP slot might come in handy.

What comes of Bradley and his Toronto future remains to be seen. But however the decision is made, the finances not sentimentality must win out.