Final Trade Update - I Hope

The Rapids just sent an email to season ticket holders announcing the Gibbs/Burpo/Thompson/Larentowicz trade and confirming that they've re-signed Larentowicz to a neew contract. It also confirms that we sent New England our 3rd round pick next year and allocation money.

Trade Complete, I Think

After a report from George Tanner earlier today that the trade with the Revs was off it appears the trade has been completed. The details:

Rapids get Wells Thompson and the rights to Jeff Larentowicz

Revolution get Cory Gibbs, the rights to Preston Burpo (who Bravo told me was out of contract this offseason), a 3rd round pick in 2011, and allocation money

To me this deal hinges on two things. How much allocation money and do the Rapids get Larentowicz under contract. As long as we didn't give up significantly more allocation money than we got from Toronto for Peterson then I'm OK with it. If we gave up 200K+ I've got to wonder what we're thinking. Allocation amounts are rarely made public in trades so we'll never know for sure.

I can't believe we would trade this much if we didn't already know we could sign Larentowicz to a new contract. Assuming that's the case I think it is a good to maybe great deal for the Rapids. We move off an expensive, overpaid center back, of which we have 6-7 and a backup goalkeeper that was reportedly unhappy to be a backup. In return we get some depth in the wings with Thompson and a player on the edge of the National Team (Larentowicz was in camp this off-season until a knee injury forced him to leave). He can immediately move into midfield along side Pablo with no significant drop-off from either Ballouchy or LaBrocca.

While I don't think this is a significant step forward it certainly isn't a step back. God solid move by the FO, if Larentowicz signs.

Trade Updates

Multiple trade updates:

• Peterson traded for allocation money - No great loss IMO. With his injury he wouldn't be at 100% until late in the season anyway, and he was at best a backup. It increases our need to get more wing depth.
• Reports are that the trade with the REvs is a go, but nothing official yet. The newest report is Burpo, Gibbs, a draft pick, and allocation money for Wells Thompson and the rights to Jeff Larentowicz. Presumably if we're giving up that much we know that we'll be able to sign the latter to a new contract. Until we know all the details its too soon to really evaluate the trade, but I don't think we lose much in Burpo or Gibbs so I like how it looks so far.
  

Trade Update

Goff had an update on the rumored Gibbs/Burpo - Thompson/Larentowicz trade with the Revs:

New England Revolution was preparing to trade midfielders Jeff Larentowicz and Wells Thompson to the Colorado Rapids for goalkeeper Preston Burpo and defender Cory Gibbs. The latest buzz is that there were issues involving Gibbs' contract as well as a delay until Monday for his medical exam to be performed by the Revs.

At this point I'm fairly confident the trade will get done. The real question is the Rapids signing Larentowicz to a new contract. Reportedly the reason New England wants to move him is that he's asking for more salary in his new contract than New England is willing to pay. He considered moving to Europe but injuries have probably prevented that for now. Last year Larentowicz made $34,000 in the last year of his first contract. now that he's getting looks by Bob Bradley though, he can demand significantly higher than that.

Trade Official

The Rapids have released information on the trade. We sent Kelly Gray and Jovan Kirovski to San Jose for Preston Burpo and a 4th round pick next season. No word yet on how the salaries will shake out.

Major Trade! Out with Kirovski, in with Burpo!

A San Jose website is reporting that the Earthquakes will announce a trade with the Rapids tomorrow. Jovan Kirovski and Kelly Gray to SJ for goalkeeper Preston Burpo.

No word yet on how the salaries will be covered, but regardless this is a solid trade for the Rapids. We get rid of the biggest waste of salary on the team and a defensive backup we appear not to need in exchange for a backup at our weakest position, goalkeeper. As detailed in my last entry, Bouna Time! leaves this week for the Senegal National Team leaving us with just MLS pool keepers as options to start i nthe pipes. Burpo gives us a quality MLS-backup to use until Bouna returns. And in a weird coincidence, he's current backing up Joe Cannon, the same position Bouna was in before he became the starter.

Good job Rapids Front Office!