Although Steve Birnbaum’s contract with D.C. United wasn’t going to expire until after the 2017 season, the MLS club entered into negotiations with him this fall for two purposes: reward his ascent to elite defender and dodge the threat of him heading overseas without the team being compensated next winter.
On Friday, United announced it had signed the U.S. national team center back to a long-term pact. Terms were not disclosed, but sources said the deal is guaranteed for three years, starting next season, and includes a club-held option in 2020.
It’s also “on the cusp,” a source said, of designated player status ($457,500), which probably means his base salary quadrupled from the 2016 rate of $86,350.