Woke Up To A Deadline Trade!

The MLS trade deadline and transfer window closed at 11pm last night.  There was some talk about Aigner possibly being moved but nobody really expected any other moves.  Everyone was surprised waking up this morning to find out that Minnesota and Colorado worked out a deal late last night.  Defender Eric Miller and $50,000 in GAM was sent to Minnesota in exchange for winger Sam Nicholson and the international spot we need to add him to the roster (the spot goes back to Minnesota at the end of the year).  Reports are that Minnesota is picking up most of Nicholson's salary as well as taking on Miller's.

This looks like, at worst, a swap of spare parts by both teams.  Miller didn't appear to be in the plans under Hudson and he's from Minnesota so he gets to go home.  Nicholson has been playing for United and the fans there seem less than pleased about the trade but he wasn't in their plans.  If things turn out for the better the Rapids likely got the better of the deal.  I could see Nicholson in the 18 in KC with our issues at right wingback and he could rotate both at wingback and possibly in the midfield if necessary.

While we're talking about the roster we should catch up on some other loan moves that have happened in the last few weeks that I got behind on reporting due to my job search (a concern that is now solved, thankfully).  Niki Jackson and Sam Hamilton are now currently on loan down in the Springs with the Switchbacks.  Meanwhile goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra was recalled from Charlotte before last week's game with Howard suspended and Academy keeper Kainoa Likewise went to Charlotte in his place.  I wouldn't be surprised to see Dykstra return in the near future now that Howard's suspension is over.  The full list of loanees is below:

Charlotte:
GK Kainoa Likewise
D Sam Vines
M Ricardo Perez
F Caleb Calvert

Colorado Springs:
M Sam Hamilton
F Niki Jackson

Phoenix:
D Mike DaFonte

Howard Announced Tomorrow?

So say former U.S. National Team player Heath Pearce on Twitter:

Been told that @TimHowardGK signing will be announced tomorrow. If true, @ColoradoRapids getting a great leader. #WelcomeBack

 This is the Rapids only appearance on ESPN this year so it makes some sense.  Along with the TransAmerica renewal signs point to it being likely but we'll see.

Also today Dillon Serna and Eric Miller (along with Boulder's Shane O'Neill) were called up for the U.S. U-23's Olympic Qualifying games with Colombia on March 23rd and 29th.  So that's 5 players now heading out on Nats duty after tomorrow's game (Doyle, Pappa, Azira, Miller, Serna).

Rapids Acquire Eric Miller From Montreal

Colorado just announced that they've traded their natural first-round 2018 Superdraft pick and general allocation money to Toronto for defender Eric Miller.

Miller is a 23 year old outside back, mainly right back.  He made 18 starts and 21 appearances as a rookie for Montreal in 2014 and 6 and 9 last year.  He also has played for the U.S. U-20 and U-23 teams and was called in to the just completed U-23/Full National Team camp this month.

I like this move.  It fills one of our areas of need (outside back) at a low cost and with a young player that we can build around.  That puts us at 21 signed players for this season.

In unrelated news Daniel Boniface had an update on draftees and trialists in camp.  Draftee John Manga has been released while former Dynamo player AJ Cochran and Dynamo youth player Brian Spencer are on trial.  Cochran is a central defender that had 19 starts and 26 appearances for the Dynamo the last two years.  Brian Spencer is the son of assistant coach and Rapids legend John Spencer.

Current roster:

GK John Berner
GK Zac MacMath
D March Burch
D Bobby Burling
D Marlon Hairston
D Eric Miller
D Axel Sjoberg
D Sean St. Ledger
D Mekeil Williams
M Michael Azira
M Sam Cronin
M Marco Pappa
M Zach Pfeffer
M Dillon Powers
M Dillon Serna
M Jared Watts
F Dominque Badji
F Caleb Calvert
F Conor Doyle
F Kevin Doyle
F Shkëlzen Gashi
F Luis Solignac

Unsigned draftees:

GK Chris Froschauer
D Dennis Castillo
D Bradley Kamdem
D Javan Torre
M Emmanuel Appiah

Trialists:

D AJ Cochran
D Stephen Keel
M Yann Ekra - Charlotte
M Brian Ownby - Richmond
Brian Spencer