Nasco & Watts Signed, Thomas Traded

Still no official word on Jose Mari but the Rapids did announce two signings today.  2nd round Superdraft pick midfielder Jared Watts and trialist goalkeeper Joe Nasco (formally with Atlanta) both penned deals today.  This gives us some depth at both keeper and d-mid.  The Terrace blog also reports today that drftee goalkeeper John Berner will probably be signed soon, giving us the standard 3 keepers after Pickens is moved or sold.  Chirs Bianchi says there's interest from outside MLS for his services (probably Scandinavia given the current open transfer windows) or he could be traded.

Depth will be necessary at d-mid as Hendry Thomas' rights were traded to Dallas today where he'll rejoin Oscar Pareja.  The Rapids got allocation money in return for his rights.  Bianchi reports it as the largest sum of allocation money the team has eve received in a transaction.  That should allow us to go shopping for some players.  With this move the future of the full 2013 roster has been determined.

There are still 3 trialist and 3 draftees in camp with 27 players signed.  Armstrong will start the season on IR and Pickens will presumably e moved before the March 1st roster compliance day, so that means there are still 5 spots open that those 6 are competing for.  We only have 7 international players in camp and 8 spots, so that won't be a roadblock.

Goalkeepers:

John Berner - Unsigned draftee

Clint Irwin

Joe Nasco

Matt Pickens - On "Excused Absence"

Defenders:

Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player - Will start season on IR(knee)

Mark Burch

Albert Edward - Unsigned draftee

Brenton Griffiths - International

Tolani Ibikunle  - Unsigned draftee

Kory Kindle

Chris Klute

Drew Moor

Brian Mullan

Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player

Grant Van De Casteele

Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:

Samuel Galindo - Unsigned trialist, International

Juan Guzman - Unsigned trialist

Marion Hariston - Generation Adidas

Nick LaBrocca

Jose Mari - Unsigned trialist, International

Dillon Powers

Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player

Nathan Sturgis

Jared Watts

Forwards:

Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International

Edson Buddle

Martin Chavez

Charles Eloundou - International

Kamani Hill

Danny Mwanga

Vicente Sanchez - International

Gabriel Torres - Designated Player, International