Welcome Back Sammy Dimes?

The biggest surprise of the preseason hit today when the Denver Post reported that the Rapids are in final negotiations to bring Sam Vines back.  He's expected in town in the next day or two to take his medical and finalize the deal.  Vines is reportedly in the last year of his contract and this will be a new deal (talk says 4 years).  Given that he has less than 6 months left I'm assuming whatever fee we might have paid is fairly minimal.  The Rapids all but confirmed the move with a tweet about "cooking up a 13 course meal".  As you can see above, Sam wears #13.

Vines left for Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2021 and was a regular for them until injuries derailed his time there.  e broke his leg in training the day before the 2022 World Cup squad was announced, one he had a high chance of making (since Shaq Moore made it) and missed the rest of the season. Even after recovering he's had a hard time getting regular play.  He featured in the two Champions League qualifiers Antwerp played in August, but then a clerical error led to him being left off the roster for actual Champions League play.  A knock had him miss the early pat of the season, but he managed to get back on the field for Antwerp's two games around Christmas before their winter break.

Burgundy Wave reported the Rapids approached him about returning and he wasn't interested, further clarification today was that approach was in the summer.  Its somewhat understandable that somebody who thought he would be playing in the Champions League would pass.  Now that he's not on that roster and struggling to get playing time making the move back to MLS probably makes more sense.

He is, obviously, a first-game starter at LB for the Rapids.  While this move may not have been in the works when we traded Gutman for Navarro, having both Navarro and Vines at LB is good depth (the less said about Gersbach the better).  This is a very unexpected but great move by the FO.

Preseason officially started today so Vines will be a bit late arriving, but he needs the least amount of time to adapt out of all the new players.  I know he rehabbed his broken leg for at least part of the time here in Denver and of course his family is still here, as is his future in-laws.

While we're on the preseason subject, Colorado announced their preseason schedule and its the same as last year.  Physicals and other prep work this coming week here in Colorado, then off to Mexico for a while, a quick trip back home for a few days, then off to Florida up until the weekend before the season starts when they come home to Colorado.  During their times in Mexico and Florida they'll play 6 closed door friendlies.  In Mexico they'll face Liga MX side Querétaro FC along with Liga de Expansión MX sides Atlético Morelia and Atlante FC.  In Florida they'll play CF Montréal and Orlando City SC, along with USL Championship side Hartford Athletic