Roster Details And New Food At The Dick

Game preview coming tonight or tomorrow morning, depending on how long this curling draw lasts.  (Yes I watch curling, curling is great).  Before we get to that though I was planning on giving the Rapids a shout out this week but I've been too busy to get to it until today.  Namely they're making some food changes for the better at the Dick.

The biggest one, in my opinion, is that GB's has been brought back inside of Dale's.  Losing them by raising the rent a few seasons ago was a massive unforced error and I'm glad the Rapids and KSE have figured out how to get them back.  Along with GB's Marie Empanada will be in the stadium too, which is a huge win.  Also Jake's Baby D Mini-Donuts are back, a personal favorite, and they've also got new BBQ and taco options.  Their debuting a new $5 menu tomorrow as well.  These are all great and very necessary food upgrades.

Of course no matter what they do there's no topping the Centennial 38 tailgate which remains undefeated and is back for its 20th season at the Dick (if you include its genesis as the Class VI tailgate).  We get the season started at 11am tomorrow morning!  No Fan Alone!

Also dropping today was the official MLS club profiles which updates all the roster classifications and contract lengths.  Obviously a lot of this doesn't change year over year, but there are some notable things to call out for the Rapids.

• Rafa Navarro apparently got his green card as he's not listed as an international
• Our 6 internationals for 6 slots are Fadal, Herrington, Holding, Manyoma, Ojediran, and Phillip
• We have two DP's - Navarro and Aaronson
• We have two U-22's - Ted KDP and Manyoma
• That means we have the flexibility to add 2 U-22s before the window closes or in the summer, or we could switch to the 3+3 model in the summer and add a DP and a U-22 (Smith has been pretty clear he prefers the 2+4 model)
• Beaudry, Fadal, and Phillip are listed as unavailable - on loan.  We know Beaudry is on loan, Fadal is still on the injury report but may be on loan to R2.  Phillip I assume is on loan to R2
• Manyoma is listed as on loan but Miguel Navarro is not.  This could just be an oversight though as I'd be surprised if we already exercised his buy clause
• Two players are out of contract with no options at the end of the season (not counting our two loanees), Yapi and Holding.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Holding allowed to walk, but we have to get Yapi a new contract ASAP.
• Nine other players are on option years in 2027, most notably Steffen, Ronan, and Sealy.  Lots of room to change this roster for Wells after one season should he want to.

My biggest take away though is how thin this roster is.  We only have the minimum 16 senior roster players and only 27 players total.  We only have 3 central midfielders and 3 wingers on the senior roster.  With two U-22 slots open I really hope some work is going to be resolved before the window closes in late March.