Trades and Draft Picks

The Rapids added 3 players today, 2 from the draft and 1 through a trade, and traded away a draft pick as well.

They started the day trading with Cincinnati for forward Calvin Harris.  They sent FCC $100K GAM this year and another $100K next year, plus up to $175K in conditional GAM based on performance.  Cinci also retains a percentage of any transfer fee if the Rapids sell him.  Harris was drafted #2, right in front of Mayaka, in the 2021 draft.  Its always been a rumor that the Rapids were targeting Harris or #1 pick Pereira when they traded up to #3 in that draft, as Mayaka was widely expected to go #1.  They've now got Harris, just 2 years later.  In that time Harris hasn't done much, but maybe a change of scenery will help.  He has one year left on his Generation Adidas deal, and he does require a international slot at the moment, though he's "close" to his green card so if that gets done in the next two months he wouldn't need one when the season starts.

Then at the draft this afternoon Colorado took central defender Moise Bombito out of the University of New Hampshire with the #3 overall pick.  Bombito is a Canadian citizen but will not require an international slot as he came through an accredited Canadian academy.  Tall and good in the air, he'll compete with our other young CB's for backup playing time.  The Rapids then traded their natural first round pick (#12) to Charlotte for $50K in GAM and Charlotte's first round pick next season, plus up to $50K of conditional GAM based on how their pick does.

With the 12th pick in the 2nd round we selected goalkeeper Oliver Semmle from Marshall University.  Semmle is a German citizen who will give Abe Rodriguez competition for the backup spot behind Yarbrough.

The Rapids, as is their ilk, passed with their third round selection.  As we've seen under Padraig Smith Colorado tends to target one player in the draft and get him, and then trade their remaining picks for value.  What they can't move they then only use if they see a player worth their time.

So all in all today we added three international players with potential but all of them are unlikely to contribute much in 2023.  We still need some significant moves to be competitive this year and the clock is ticking.  We open camp the week after the holidays end.