Rapids Sign LaBrocca, Alvarez, Give Burch New Contract

Today the Rapids made the LaBrocca re-signing official and also announced the re-signing of Carlos Alvarez.  I like the Alvarez re-signing, though with how crowded our midfield is getting I wonder if he's going to get any time.  Marc Burch, who was under contract, also got a new contract.  With those moves that puts us at a total of 25 signed players for 2015, with 6 of 8 international spots filled.  We're still waiting on the new CBA to find out what the new roster rules will be and how the usL affiliation will play into it.

Updated camp roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Carlos Alvarez
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Lucas Pittinari*
Dillon Powers
Juan Ramirez*
Marcelo Sarvas
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp, visa issues)
Vicente Sanchez
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned but in AZ or negotiating:
D Francisco Flores* (trialist)
D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably, was in Vegas)
D Wes Knight (trialist)
D Ben Newnam (trialist)
D James Riley
D Grant Van de Casteele
M Benji Joya
M Oscar Montoya (trialist)
F Dominique Badji* (draftee)
F Kevin Doyle* (negotiating)

Unsigned and not in AZ:

GK Quentin Westberg
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee, not in camp)
D Patrick Slogic (Charlotte player)
M Andrew Ribiero (Charlotte player)
F Billy Schuler

Busy Day Of News

Lots of news so let's get to it.  At the bottom is an updated list of the roster and camp invitees as we know it.

• First, the Denver Post's Daniel Boniface tweeted confirmation that LaBrocca signed a new contract:

I ran into Nick Labrocca...he's re-signed with the #Rapids96 and will be back for 2015.

I'm not loving this move.  Sam Cronin and Nick LaBrocca are too similar to really need both on the roster.  If LaBrocca signed for sub $100K as a depth player then fine, but otherwise its redundant.

• The Rapids have two right backs on trial in camp, Wes Knight and Ben Newnam.  Newnam is actually signed with our USL affiliate in Charlotte so that may already be paying off.  This is the downside of the Klute trade though as we have a lack of depth at outside back.  Harrington and Burch cover the left side but right back is a big question mark at the moment.
• Argentine defensive midfielder Lucas Pittinari is in town in preparation for finalizing the loan deal.  If they had him come to Denver it should be just a formality at this point, assuming he passes the physical.  This is likely a loan for a season so we can decide if he rates the $1.5 million price-tag he's rumored to have, making him a DP in 2016 if we buy him.
• Finally, two tweets from the Post's Mark Kiszla about that "big name" signing this week that fist came up on Friday. 

#Rapids pursuit of big-name designated player not dead, but has hit snags. Might have new star by start of reg season, but not by Feb 1.

 Pursuit of marquee designated player can be roller-coaster ride for any MLS club, and #Rapids have hit dip in the ride.

That second tweet was actually favorited by Tim Hinchey, so I'm guessing this report is fairly accurate.  I wish I could say I was surprised or disappointed by this news but I'm not.  As I wrote on Friday:

I'm hoping the Rapids have an actual target they're in final negotiations with and they've managed to keep it tightly under wraps, because the only real rumors we've heard so far this offseason are the two Argentinian players and they don't meet the standards of "big-time scorer".  By self-imposing a deadline and announcing it they've set themselves up to disappoint the fan base (again).  I would think they wouldn't let this information out unless they were very sure they've got a deal done, but we've seen stranger things.  Remember all the hassle when we thought we had both Martin Rivero and Gabriel Torres signed, only to not have the deals done?

This is just another incident in a long history of incidents where the Rapids failed to deliver on an earlier statement.  We'll see if we get that big signing before March. 7th or if we have to wait until the mid-season transfer window, but if I had to bet my money is on mid-season at best.

UPDATE: I reached out to the Rapids and got a couple of camp updates:
Carlos Alvarez (waived) - In camp
Zat Knight (out of contract) - Not in camp yet
Charles Eloundou (under contract) - Not in camp yet

Though on the last two they weren't sure if that was just "They haven't arrived in Denver for the season yet" or if there was something else going on.  They were going to check.

Updated roster:

(* = international):

Goalkeepers:
John Berner
Clint Irwin
Zac MacMath

Defenders:
Marc Burch
Bobby Burling
Michael Harrington
Drew Moor
John Neeskens
Shane O'Neill
Axel Sjoberg*

Midfielders:
Sam Cronin
Marlon Hairston
Nick LaBrocca
Dillon Powers
Marcelo Sarvas*
Dillon Serna
Jared Watts

Forwards:
Deshorn Brown*
Caleb Calvert
Charles Eloundou* (not yet in camp)
Vicente Sanchez*
Gabriel Torres*

Unsigned:
D Brandon Fricke (draftee)
D Joseph Greenspan (draftee, on Naval duty through 2017 probably)
D Matt Jeffrey (draftee)
D Zat Knight* (not yet in camp)
D Grant Van de Casteele (confirmed to be in camp)
M Carlos Alvarez (confirmed to be in camp)
M Wes Knight (trialist in camp)
M Ben Newnam (trialist in camp)
M Lucas Pittinari* (in town negotiating)

F Dominique Badji* (draftee)

Part 2 and Rapids Sign Two

I haven't had time to watch it yet, but here's part two of the Inside the Superdraft series:



The big news today was two signings by the Rapids.  First this morning Colorado participated in a lottery for the rights to Charles Eloundou, a Cameroonian striker who signed a contract with the league prior to the SuperDraft but a delay in his work visa prevented him from being available on draft day.  Colorado beat out FSL and DC in the lottery.  Eloundou, 18, has played for Cameroon's U-20 team, scoring 8 goals during the 7 games of U-20 World Cup Qualifying in 2012.  That earned him a cap for the full National Team and his joining of the Rapids will be delayed until next month has he's been called up to the full Nats again for their friendly with Tanzania on Feb. 6th.  He's on loan from Cameroonian side AS Fortuna de Mfou with an option to buy at the end of the 2013 season.  As a bit of a fan of the Cameroon National Team I can't wait to see him in action.

This afternoon the Rapids announced that they had signed Nick LaBrocca to a new contract.  He'll immediately challenge for a starting spot in midfield and if Pablo spends any time on the bench he's the natural replacement.

The updated camp roster is below, but just some numbers on the camp.  There are 38 players trying for 30 spots.  26 players are already under contract.  If we assume that one of the 3 goalkeeper trialists will claim the 3rd GK spot that leaves 9 players trying for the 3 remaining field spots (assuming a signed player isn't cut or traded).  The Rapids have 7 international players under contract and 3 internationals from the Supplemental Draft on trial for a total of 8 international slots.

Updated camp roster:

Goalkeepers:
Steward Ceus
Matt Pickens
Joel Helmick - Unsigned trialist
Clint Irwin - Unsigned trialist
Jim Mauer - Unsigned trialist

Defenders:
Diego Calderon - International
Marcello Castro - Unsigned draftee, International
Brenton Griffiths - Unsigned draftee, International
Kory Kindle - Unsigned draftee
Chris Klute (Atlanta loan through late-Sept)
Drew Moor
Anthony Wallace
Marvell Wynne
Luke Vercollone - Unsigned trialist

Midfielders:
Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player
Tony Cascio
Jaime Castrillon - International
Machael David - Unsigned draftee
Kevin Harbottle - International
Nick LaBrocca
Pablo Mastroeni
Brian Mullan
Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player
Dillon Powers
Martin Rivero (Rosario Central loan through 2013) - International
Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player
Nathan Sturgis
Hendry Thomas - International
Carlos Diaz - Unsigned trialist
Jamie Smith - Unsigned trialist

Forwards:
Andre Akpan
Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International
Edson Buddle
Charles Eloundou - International
Atiba Harris
Kamani Hill
Stefano Souza Pinho - Unsigned draftee, International
Cesar Romero - Unsigned trialist

Picks, Trades, and Injuries

Another busy day out in Commerce City.  Two notes, then onto the Supplemental Draft.

• Edson Buddle left the U.S. Nats camp with an injury to his right knee.  The same knee he's had issues with in the past.  No word on the severity of the injury.
• The Rapids completed the long rumored trade of Eric Avila's rights to Chivas USA for former-Rapid Nick LaBrocca's rights.  Colorado is currently working on a new contract with LaBrocca.

Now onto the Supplemental Draft.  The Rapids had two 2nd Round picks, a 3rd Round pick, and a 4th Round pick.  With the 4 picks they got (in order):

• Jamaican defender Brenton Griffiths out of the University of South Florida.  He's also played for the Jamaican U-17 and U-20 teams.  He would take up an international spot.
• Brazilian forward Stefano Souza Pinho from Fluminense and later loaned out to Guaratingueta.  He would also require an international spot.
• Nigerian midfielder Machael David from UC Santa Barbara.  He has American citizenship, having moved to Tacoma when he was 17 (a fellow Puget Sounder!).
• Brazilian defender Marcello Castro from Sacred Heart University.  He would require an international spot.

None of these players have contracts yet, though its expected that Pinho's contract is already negotiated as part of his invite as an international player to the combine and draft.  If he makes the team signing him to a contract will just be a formality.  Right now we have 9 internationals in camp and 8 international spots.  6 of those internationals are already under contract, so the 3 drafted today are fighting for two spots at best, and that's assuming nobody else is signed.  Overall we have 37 players in camp for 30 spots.  Only 24 of them are signed though, leaving 13 players competing for 6 slots.

Updated camp roster:

Goalkeepers:
Steward Ceus
Matt Pickens
Joel Helmick - Unsigned trialist
Clint Irwin - Unsigned trialist
Jim Mauer - Unsigned trialist

Defenders:
Diego Calderon - International
Marcello Castro - Unsigned draftee, International
Brenton Griffiths - Unsigned draftee, International
Kory Kindle - Unsigned draftee
Chris Klute (Atlanta loan through late-Sept)
Drew Moor
Anthony Wallace
Marvell Wynne
Luke Vercollone - Unsigned trialist

Midfielders:
Davy Armstrong - Homegrown Player
Tony Cascio
Jaime Castrillon - International
Machael David - Unsigned draftee
Kevin Harbottle - International
Nick LaBrocca - Unsigned but rights traded for
Pablo Mastroeni
Brian Mullan
Shane O'Neill - Homegrown Player
Dillon Powers
Martin Rivero (Rosario Central loan through 2013) - International
Dillon Serna - Homegrown Player
Nathan Sturgis
Hendry Thomas - International
Carlos Diaz - Unsigned trialist
Jamie Smith - Unsigned trialist

Forwards:
Andre Akpan
Deshorn Brown - Generation Adidas, International
Edson Buddle
Atiba Harris
Kamani Hill
Stefano Souza Pinho - Unsigned draftee, International
Cesar Romero - Unsigned trialist

Busy Times In Commerce City

Lots of news so lets get to it.

First and foremost, DSG Park will host the first home World Cup Qualifier for the U.S. this year.  USA - Costa Rica on March 22nd.  Ticket details are yet to be announced but they have said that Rapids full-season ticket holders will get a pre-sale before they're available to the general public.  Great job by the Rapids FO to land this game!

Now if anyone is reading this in Colorado and isn't planning on going to the game, I've got two tickets to the Great Big Sea concert at the Boulder Theater on March 22nd for sale that I'd love to move ASAP!

Secondly, big trade from the Rapids today, sending Ginger Ninja Jeff Larentowicz and the 30th pick in the draft to Chicago for the 11th pick tomorrow, an international spot next year, and allocation money (reportedly $75K).  The 30th pick was the one we got in trade from Chicago for Wells Thompson, so its essentially Larentowicz and Thompson for the 11th pick, allocation money, and an international spot.

Good, not great, trade from the Rapids FO.  The rumor of Larentowicz being on the trading block has been out there for a while.  He's coming off a less-than-stellar season and it was fairly obvious he didn't fit in the upcoming plans.  That left Colorado trading from a point of weakness.  That said, getting the 11th pick when we already have the 6th pick should get us 2 players that should contribute almost immediately.  Allocation money is always helpful, and hopefully we use the international slot.

Thirdly, that trade looks better if the trade Ives reported is accurate, we send the rights to Eric Avila (acquired in the Re-Entry Draft) to Chivas USA in return for the rights to Nick LaBrocca.  LaBrocca played here from 2005-2009, being traded to Toronto the day before the 2010 season started for Marvell Wynne.  One of our better trades.  He's a good box-to-box midfielder that might fit well between Martin Rivero and Hendry Thomas.  Nick was an All-Star for Chivas in 2011.  If we really got him for just the rights to Avila, that's a steal.  He may or may not be currently under contract, but the Rapids have shown in the past that when they trade for an out-of-contract player they make sure they can sign him so I'm not worried about getting him.

So going into the draft tomorrow, here's our current roster.  Right now we have picks 6, 11, and 25 in the 38 pick/2 round draft.  I'll update tomorrow as I'm able to, with a full recap tomorrow night.


Goalkeepers:
Steward Ceus
Matt Pickens

Defenders:
Diego Calderon
Chris Klute (on loan from Atlanta through late-Sept)
Drew Moor
Anthony Wallace
Marvell Wynne

Midfielders:
Davy Armstrong
Eric Avila - Unsigned
Tony Cascio
Jaime Castrillon
Pablo Mastroeni
Brian Mullan
Shane O'Neill
Martin Rivero (on loan from Rosario Central through 2013)
Nathan Sturgis
Hendry Thomas

Forwards:
Andre Akpan
Edson Buddle
Atiba Harris
Kamani Hill

LaBrrocca for Wynne

As soon as I posted that the Final Roster was set, the Rapids made a trade. Out goes Nick LaBrocca, in comes Marvell Wynne from Toronto. TFC also gets an unspecified draft pick in the trade. No official confirmation yet, but multiple reports are leaking about it.

I am cautiously optimistic about this trade. LaBrocca was somewhat redundant as a defensive/holding mid with both Pablo and Larentowicz. Wynne is a strong speedy guy that needs work on his technical skills. The one down side is that Wynne can pretty much only play right back, which makes me wonder what the plans aare for personal favorite Kosuke Kimura. Is Wynne being brought in for depth or will he be expected to start at RB? If so, I think Kimura turns into a super sub that can come in at RB, RM, DM, and even LB in a pinch.

UPDATE: Trade confirmed by Rapids press release. We sent a 3rd round pick along with LaBrocca.