Diego Calderon Returns To LDU Quito

Well we have our first roster move of the off-season.  After finishing his season-long loan the Rapids have decided to let Diego Calderon return to LDU Quito in Ecuador.

Calderon started the first 5 games of the season before injuring his knee saving a goal in Salt Lake (and the Rapids won the Rocky Mountain Cup by 1 goal this year) in LA and spending the next few months on Injured Reserve.  By the time he got healthy Shane O'Neill had already made the center back spot alongside Drew Moor his, even pushing Marvell Wynne out to right back, so Calderon wasn't able to break back into the lineup.

While he showed good skills and looked like a solid part of the lineup, there's really no reason for the Rapids to buy him from Quito with the O'Neill-Moor pairing they have now.  If they want a backup for them they're more likely to sign German Mera.

EDIT: My bad, Calderon injured his knee saving a goal in the LA game the game after the first FSL game.  Updated.

Akpan Traded, Calderon Injured, Moor Suspended

Three bits of new today from Commerce City.

• Andre Akpan was traded to NYRB for a conditional 2015 draft pick
• Not a bad trade, I think Akpan's role as the young forward had been supplanted by both Tony Cascio and DeShorn Brown.  We're a little thin on bodies at the moment though!  Also, if you're tracking, we're down to 8 players from the Smith regime now, plus Pablo.  All 9 of them have MLS Cup rings.
• Drew Moor was suspended an extra game for his elbow against LA last week.
• I can't complain, its fair given the off-the-balll and to-the-head nature of the foul.
• Diego Calderon had to have surgery on his knee and is out 4-5 months.
• Ouch.  An already thin back line gets even thinner.  So right now we're out Pickens, Calderon, and Castrillon for multiple months, plus Mastroeni, Rivero, and possibly Buddle for multiple weeks (though there are rumors Buddle could start this weekend).  With Moor being out two weeks our backline will look something like Wynne - O'Neill - Klute - Mullan.

Diego Calderon Officially Signed

The long rumored signing of Calderon was made official today.  There was also a rumor of a couple of other players being loaned to the Rapids but the team clarified that it was incorrect.  So the current roster is below.


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
Jeff Larentowicz
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

Rapids Reportedly Close To Signing Diego Calderon

So much for the quiet holiday period. ;)  Multiple reports out of Ecuador are stating that Ecuadorian National Team member and LDU Quito defender Diego Calderon is coming to MLS, and one report links him with the Rapids.  Tim Hinchey tweeted last night they he expects to announce the signing of a left-footed CB/LB by the end of the week.  Calderon is a left-footed CB/LB and his season ended on Sunday, so it seems to pair with Hinchey's tweet.  Mile High Sports is also reporting the move but its unclear if they are basing that report on the Ecuadorian reports or if they have a source at this end.

Calderon is 26 years old and has played with LDU Quito since he became a pro in 2005 (he made 11 appearances on loan to Deportivo Azogues in 2006).  He was part of their 2008 Club World Cup team where he played against Pachuca (winning 2-0) and Man U. (losing the final 1-0).  He's also been capped 5 times for Ecuador since 2011 and was on the bench during Ecuador's most recent two World Cup Qualifiers in October.

The Rapids were also linked with Isidro Metapan striker Nicolas Munoz today (as was Houston) but they issued a pretty quick denial of that rumor.