Daniel Ríos has been cooking, and not in the kitchen. The Atlanta United striker has been on fire, scoring four goals in the team’s previous six MLS matches. Adding to his impressive tally, Ríos has also dished out two assists, bringing his total goal contributions to six in as many games. Goal contributions, which sum up goals and assists, are one of the best markers for determining an attacking player’s effectiveness. Ríos’s performance stands out not just in volume but in value—his five goals this season are tied for second-most on the team, achieved in just 781 MLS minutes.
These numbers alone are impressive, but what makes Ríos’s performance even more noteworthy is his cost-effectiveness. The striker joined Atlanta United on loan from Liga MX side CD Guadalajara (Chivas) back in March and was initially added to the supplemental roster.
To grasp the significance of this move, it’s helpful to understand the difference between a supplemental roster spot and a senior roster spot in MLS terms:
- Supplemental: Players on the Supplemental Roster (slots 21-30) do not count toward a club’s Salary Budget.
- Senior: Up to 20 players, occupying roster slots 1-20, count against the club’s Salary Budget and are referred to as the club’s Senior Roster.
When Atlanta United moved former winger Derrick Etienne Jr. to Toronto FC in April, it opened a spot for Ríos to transition from the supplemental roster to the senior roster. This change meant he became one of the 20 players whose salary counts against the club’s budget, but it did not alter his budget charge, essentially what Ríos costs the club.
Think of the MLS salary budget like a grocery budget. You might spend more on premium items like ribeye steak or fresh salmon—the main course. Similarly, MLS teams allocate a bigger chunk of their budget to designated players, whose talent and potential contributions are deemed high value. In contrast, you’d spend less on pantry staples like bread or rice, which are essential but more easily replaced. These staples are akin to players who fill out the roster but don’t command high salaries.
Ríos, on the senior roster, earns the senior minimum salary ($89,716) per MLS rules, a modest charge against the club’s annual salary budget of $5,470,000. This places him in the role of an essential, albeit low-cost, pantry staple. Yet, every now and then, a side dish steals the spotlight, much like how Ríos has outshined expectations. Despite his budget-friendly salary, he’s delivering premium performances—scoring goals and creating opportunities consistently for Atlanta United.
Ríos may not have the price tag of a designated player, but he’s proving himself to be a high-yield investment. His knack for scoring and creative playmaking is a testament to his quality. Like a perfectly seasoned side dish that elevates the meal, Ríos is adding immense value to Atlanta United’s roster, showing that sometimes, the best ingredients aren’t always the most expensive.
