What's This, A Rumor?

Its been a very quiet offseason so far, with the only real news being Vines, Lewis, and Acosta's callup to the January National Team camp.  Today though the independent Twitter account @BigBadMLS reported that the Rapids are in talks with free-agent striker Fanendo Adi.  Adi was a huge part of Portland's success a few years ago but was traded to the (then) USL FC Cincinnati in 2018 as their first major signing as part of their preparation to move into MLS in 2019.  After the inaugural season in Cinci that didn't go well by anyone's opinion he moved up the interstate to Columbus last season, rejoining his coach from Portland Caleb Porter.  Despite that established relationship Adi was not a top choice in Columbus and had another slow season before being released and becoming a free agent.

In Cincinnati he was making $1.3 million guaranteed, with up to $2 million with added details, as a Designated Player.  After being waived by Cinci he was picked up by Columbus at the same price, with Cinci still picking up most of it.  In those two years he got two years older (now 30) and scored...1 goal in 870 minutes of play.  For comparison purposes in those same two years the Rapids had a player score only 1 goal in less than half that time, Seb Anderson.  And he spent all of last season in the Springs.

Adi obviously has talent and has ended up in situations that just don't work for him the last two years.  But he is now on the wrong side of 30 and at least 2 years removed from being an obvious MLS starter.  If we want to sign him as a backup at sub-max salary for a 2 year deal, fine, go for it.  It fits our MO of finding distressed MLS assets and getting them on the cheap with the hope they'll bounce back in a new situation.  There's no way I see paying him anything more than max salary makes any sense, nor does it match what the team has been building the last couple of years.  An older expensive questionable striker went out with Yannick Boli and Joe Mason.

Aside from that I have heard some talk that we might hear about a significant trade soon.  More on that if/when more details break.  Other than that I leave you with this belated happy holidays image of the newly rehabbed Rocky Mountain Cup.