Transfer Window Guide: Each Western Conference team's status & needs
Another season of disappointment in LA, a tipping-point reached in Seattle, and Seb Berhalter about to cross the pond?
The MLS Secondary Transfer Window opened last week, which means this is late. You know this; you read it in yesterday's newsletter. Everybody always reads the lede, right? Right??
A reminder that the league shifted the window this year to better align with the closing of the major European windows (most shut on Sept. 1; Turkey always stays open later, and their teams often get good deals because of it). MLS’s dates are now July 13 to September 2.
As I wrote yesterday, I'm sure will matter somewhat. It was a good, smart move to realign the window. I'm just disappointed that realignment didn't come with loosened roster restrictions and more ambition. Oh well.
Anyway, the Eastern Conference guide was yesterday. Below is the West:
Austin FC
- Biggest Need: Unwinding a bunch of contracts.
- Roster Model: DP model
- Premium Slots Available: Nada.
The amount of money Rodo Borrell spent to put this roster together is insane. The work of this window – and the rest of the year – is going to be figuring out which of these guys can be part of the next build when Jim Curtin takes over in January, and which of these guys need to be bought out/shipped out within the next two windows.
There is, as of now, no CSO, which probably complicates things a bit. But I'm sure there's someone in the room who can say "yes" if they get any kind of offer for Myrto Uzuni (last night's goal notwithstanding), Nicolás Dubersarsky or Mateja Djordjević.
At the same time, I'd be shocked if there was any real shopping done this window. That should wait for winter, when the whole executive structure is in place.
Colorado Rapids
- Biggest Need: Central midfield.
- Roster Model: U22 Model
- Premium Slots Available: It depends upon what Josh Atencio's classified as. If he's still on a U22 deal – which I think he is – they have one slot open. If he's not, they have two open. Either way, they can opt into the DP model if that's what they want.
What the Rapids really need, more than adding new faces, is for the guys they've already acquired to start delivering. That includes Paxten Aaronson (who's been good but not productive) and the metric shit-ton of wingers they've got rostered.
If they are going to add a piece, though, central midfield is it. Right now they are one injury away from being catastrophically thin, and given the reckless abandon with which everyone on this team flies into tackles, injuries are always on the menu.
