Welcome Back Mr. Badji

A familiar name is back on Colorado's roster.  The Rapids sent $50K in GAM to Nashville to bring Dominique Badji back to the Front Range for the rest of the season.  If he sticks around and re-signs for 2022 Nashville will get another $50K.

I don't need to describe Badji, anyone who's been a fan for more than a couple of years saw him get his start here.  He hasn't changed much since then, still fast, still questionable accuracy.  He's going to be more of a true backup striker to Rubio than Shinyashiki has been, and it gives Fraser an option off the bench to change out style as Badji likes to use his speed to get behind the back line on through balls.

Badji originally left Colorado for Dallas in the middle of 2018 in exchange for Kellyn Acosta. The rest of that trade was an international slot to Dallas through 2019, and Dallas and Colorado swapped first round picks in 2019.  Colorado also got Dallas' second round pick in 2019.   Lets lay out exactly what happened to all the pieces of this trade.

What Dallas got:

The international slot was used for 1.5 seasons by Dallas and returned, its off the board

Badji - 38 appearances for Dallas, 3660 minutes, 8 goals, 4 assists

Rapids 2019 pick, used by Dallas - Turned out to be the 4th pick, with which Dallas took Callum Montgomery.  After two years in Dallas they traded him to Minnesota.  So far he hasn't appeared in a MLS match in 2.5 seasons.

What Colorado got:

Kellyn Acosta - 68 appearances for Colorado, 5809 minutes, 7 goals, 7 assists

Dallas 2019 1st round pick, used by Colorado - Turned out to be the #15 pick, traded with $100K of GAM to Chicago for the #5 pick, used to select Andre Shinyashiki

Andre Shinyashiki - 59 appearances for Colorado, 3419 minutes, 13 goals, 4 assists, 2019 ROTY

Dallas 2019 2nd round pick, used by Colorado - Turned out to be the #39 pick, traded to Toronto for Clint Irwin

Clint Irwin - 15 appearances, 1260 minutes, 1 clean sheet

The Rapids turned Dom Badji, an international slot for 1.5 years, $100K of GAM, and stepping back 1 spot in draft order into Kellyn Acosta, Andre Shinyashiki, and Clint Irwin.  That's up there as one of the great trades in league history.  To quote Hamilton:

"We got more than we gave

and we wanted what we got

When you got skin the the game, you stay in the game

But you don't get a win unless you play in the game

Oh, you get love for it

You get hate for it"

Now, for another $50K in GAM that becomes an international slot for 1.5 years, $150K of GAM, and stepping back 1 spot in draft order into Kellyn Acosta, Andre Shinyashiki, and Clint Irwin.  Dallas, you got played.

(Yeah, I know we also lost Badji's contributions for 2.5 years, but that amounted to 55 appearances, 3597 minutes, 9 goals, 6 assists, for all intents and purposes what we've gotten out of Shinyashiki while he's been gone.  So cancel those two out and we still got Kellyn Acosta and Clint Irwin for an international slot for 1.5 years and $150K of GAM)

Also today there are multiple reports out of Brazil that the loan deal for Esteves is done.  Robin Fraser's weekly media availability was today and Padraig Smith joined him, however when asked about Esteves he had no comment about any specific player.