YNT-eligible MLS players: 2019/2020 Offseason thread

Having Zelalem there totally soured me on Seltzer and his list.

 

https://www.prosoccerusa.com/mls/at...e-sc-mls-expansion-draft-2019-atlanta-united/

 

Good to see. He was never going to start with Martinez ahead of him. He needed to get out this offseason. Now he'll get his chance to play more regularly, and we'll see how good he can be in a bigger role. I think he has a chance to be a NT caliber striker (to some extent).

I wonder if Trey Muse moves up to the back up keeper role for Seattle with Meredith gone.

 

#Rapids96 have acquired defender Auston Trusty from #DOOP in exchange for $300k in 2020 TAM and $300k in 2021 GAM. The Union could also get an additional $150k in 2021 GAM if Trusty reaches certain performance-based thresholds.

— Jeff Carlisle (@JeffreyCarlisle) November 20, 2019

 

We usually see a lot of homegrown signings during the offseason. So far we've seen Nyeman, Walls, Rivera and Ochoa this offseason. I'd expect another 10+ additions by the end of the offseason. Does anyone remember exactly how many there were in the last few seasons?

I don't follow college soccer that closely, so I don't know about those signings, but these are the potential candidates this offseason I see from the academy teams.

Atlanta United: They aren't too hesitant to sign players and they have a reserve team, so that helps, but I don't know if they have many options. They seem to like Jackson Conway ('01) and Will Reilly ('02). Maybe those two kids could be options.

Chicago Fire: Javier Casas ('03) should certainly be an option. Justin Reynolds ('04), Chris Brady ('04), Allan Rodriguez ('04), Alex Monis ('03), Brian Gutierrez ('03) are some players that I think might be options down the road in the next year, but Casas seems the big option for this offseason.

FC Cincinatti: Nothing yet.

Columbus Crew: They have a few big options here that if they don't sign soon, I think we are going to have to start questioning whether they will be signed, at all. Elton Chifamba ('03) and Sam Sarver ('03) should be immediate options to sign. If I was running things, both would already be signed. I'd normally say Noah Hall ('03) is a likely option based on his age and level of play, but there's such a log-jam that makes it seem unlikely. Because of the log-jam, options such as JT Harms ('03) and Anthony Hernandez ('03) are even more unlikely to be signed.

DC United: They just signed Nyeman, so they might not make any more signings. The easy answer for next signing should be Kevin Paredes ('03). I don't think it'll be long before he signs, if he is going to sign with them. They have a few other options who might be more down the road options like Jacob Greene ('03), Juston Rainey ('03), Theodore Ku-DiPietro ('02), Jeremy Garay ('03), Sebastian Falsone ('02), but they've done a good job of using their USL team to integrate their academy players, so maybe one or two of these players are actually options for this offseason.

Inter Miami: Nothing pressing, IMO. Andre Zuluaga ('03) might be an option in the next year or two, but as a non-elite 16 year old keeper, it's not something I'd put as incredibly likely, as opposed to a possibility. Andres Cardenas ('03) might be an option in the next year or two, but I wouldn't consider that as pressing either.

Nashville SC: No academy yet.

New England Revolution: I think they have a few options they could sign, which is why I didn't understand the Rivera signing. I wouldn't have named him in the top 2-3 options. I think Eliot Jones ('03) and Colby Quinones ('03) could definitely be options with their new USL team.

NYCFC: Some reports on twitter speculated that Tayvon Gray ('02) seems likely to sign soon. I don't see many other options, aside from him. They might want to sign Andres Jasson ('02) to a contract. Aside from that, there probably aren't very many other options. I might even list Alex Rando ('02) as ahead of Jasson, if I was running things, but really neither should probably be options with the pace at which teams sign players to first team contracts.

NYRB: I would not be surprised, at all, if John Tolkin ('02) signs this offseason. I'm not particularly high on his game, but he's played a lot for their USL team as an academy player. Dantouma Toure ('04) and Kenan Hot ('04) should certainly also be options, but given that they are 04's, they might be a little more likely to sign later on than this offseason.

Orlando City SC: It wouldn't seem like there are many options, but I think Michael Halliday ('03) is definitely an option. He's played all season in the U-19's as a U-17 eligible player. I think they have a few other quality players in the upper levels of their academy, but at the pace they sign players, I don't think there are any other options.

Philadelphia Union: There are a lot of options, so this will be interesting to see. I also think they will make some signings. They use their reserve team very well. Brandan Craig ('04) and Quinn Sullivan ('04), Patrick Bohui ('03) and Dante Huckaby are certainly in the mix. I suspect they'll try to get all four of those guys signed within the next year. Ben Martino ('02) might be an under the radar candidate. Nathan Harriel ('01), Luis Flores ('02), Nicholas Pariano ('03) and Anton Sorensen ('04), Paxten Aaronson ('03) could also be options, but with the amount of players they need to get signing, I think those are probably more likely candidates for down the road.

Colorado Rapids: Will Vint ('01) is certainly an option. I also wouldn't be surprised if they sign a keeper. Abraham Rodriguez ('02) played a lot for their reserve team last season, and Andrew Cordes ('03) might be even better than Rodriguez.

FC Dallas: This has been discussed in this forum rather recently. If they back up the money trucks, Jonathan Gomez ('03) might sign. Tanner Tessman ('01) is another obvious candidate, but he seems like another that probably would've been signed by now, if he was going to sign. They have a lot of other options, aside from those players. Nico Carrera is a definite candidate, Seth Wilson ('02) is a definite candidate, Diego Letayf ('02) is another, as is David Rodriguez ('02). Beni Redzic ('02) previously did not want to sign with them. Has his mind changed? Kevin Bonilla ('01) has played a lot for the reserves Justin Che ('03) might also be another option. There are probably about 15 players in the upper levels of their academies who should be options. You can't sign them all.

Houston Dynamo: Will they change how they operate with Ramos as the coach? Kaya Ignacio ('02) could be an option, Osmar Chavero ('01) might be another. Maybe Isaac Acevedo ('03), Alex Borsos ('04) or Erick Monge ('03) if they opt to sign a younger option.

LA Galaxy: Mauricio Cuevas ('03) should be a definite option, as should Cameron Dunbar ('02) and Adam Saldana ('02). Jonathan Perez ('03) and Marcus Ferkranus ('03) could be two other options. If they go off the radar, Victor Valdez ('04) could be the selection.

Minnesota United: I'm not sure there's an immediate option. Maybe Patrick Weah ('03) or Fred Emmings ('04), if they really wanted to sign someone. They also don't have a USL team yet, where a first team player could develop in.

Portland Timbers: I think if they sign anyone from their academy (always unlikely), Masango Akale ('02) is the most likely option. Hunter Sulte ('02), Owen Guske ('02), Dyson Clapier ('02), Caleb Kiner ('02) and Kashope Oladapo ('02), Mitchell Ferguson ('03), Isaac Homer ('03) and Gerardo Duran ('04) would be in the mix, if not Akale.

Real Salt Lake: I would have to imagine that they are going to sign Chris Garcia ('03) pretty soon. Will it be this offseason? Zackery Farnsworth ('02), Brennan Klein ('02), Julian Lomeli ('03), Abel Mendoza ('03) and Jeff Dewsnup ('04) are some other options, but I don't see anything pressing, aside from Garcia.

San Jose Earthquakes: They just signed Walls and Ochoa, and have a lot of academy players who still don't even play regularly in USL, so I don't think they are going to sign any other players this offseason. Tarun Karumanchi ('03) would be singed immediately, if I was running things. Israel Carrillo ('03) and Alejandro Cano ('04) could be two other options down the road.

Seattle Sounders: Are they going to sign Josh Atencio ('02)? He's played a lot for their reserves. I think he's too good for college soccer. If Seattle doesn't sign him, I imagine he'll sign somewhere in Europe when he turns 18. Danny Robles ('02), Marlon Vargas ('01), Ray Serrano ('02), Ethan Dobbelaere ('02), Bryson Hankins ('02), Sota Kitahara ('03) and James Lowell ('02) are probably all on the radar to some extent in the next year.

Sporting Kansas City: Is it too early for them to sign Nati Clarke ('05)? I can't imagine it'll be long before he signs, if he wants to go the MLS route over the European route. I don't know if they have many great options in the upper levels of their academy. Jacob Davis ('02), Tucker Lepley ('02), Kaveh Rad ('01), Jahon Rad ('01) would seem like the most likely signings, aside from keepers. They have a lot of very good keepers, but how likely is it ever that a team will sign an academy keeper? Max Trejo ('02), Brooks Thompson ('02) and Gavin Krenecki ('03) could all be options.

 

I think Seattle might sign Azriel Gonzalez ('01) to a homegrown contract, not because I've heard anything, just because he played very well when he wasn't injured. After coming back from an injury, he was scoring and creating goals for Tacoma, at the end of their season. He's not a speedy winger but definitely an attacking threat.

 

Its almost impossible to predict this. Who predicted Edwin Cerrillo last year? Not many. And then who predicted him to actually get playing time? And play well enough in that time to make the U20WC roster?

With FCD its usually about who is willing to sign and not who has the most talent.

There's also a whole host on NCAA options to consider for the first team and for NTSC. For instance, left back could be an area to build depth. Eddie Munjoma is an option there.

And then who is going to be promoted from an NTSC contract to a first team contract? Arturo Rodriguez stands out as that option. Imanol Almaguer is another, who a lot of folks like as a versatile fullback/midfielder option. I suspect those guys like Almaguer get promoted first as FCD really wants to build that academy to NTSC to FCD pathway. If you want to do that, you have to keep plugging away at it and promoting those players that went that route with you. Like Ricardo Pepi.

There's probably a list 20 players long that we can make.
And there may not actually be that many holes on the first team. We'll have a better feeling for that as we get into the January window.

 

I mostly agree, but it wasn't exactly a big secret in the latter part of 2018 that Cerrillo was going to be the next HG signing for FCD. Everyone was stating it. He might've been signed in November or December, if it wasn't for some legal problems that the club had to sort out (on their part, not the player's part) before they could sign any more HGP's.

 

Nica Carerra just committed to Louisville.

 

Today was contract option decision day in MLS.

Cameron Lindley and Mason Stajduhar had their options declined today by Orlando. Santiago Patino's was picked up.

Atlanta declined to pick up Chris Goslin's and Patrick Okonkwo's options. Andrew Carleton's was picked up.

Colorado declined Sam Raben's option. Jonathan Lewis's was picked up.

LAFC declined Lamar Batista's option. They also announced that Phillip Ejimadu's loan has expired, and he will return to Nacional Atlético Clube. Josh Perez had his option picked up.

The Galaxy declined Hugo Arellano's option. Justin Vom Steeg's and Emil Cuello's were picked up.

Minnesota picked up Hassani Dotson's option.

New England picked up Isaac Angking's option.

NYRB exercised their options for Kyle Duncan and Sean Nealis.

The NYCFC press release says Keaton Parks’ loan from Benfica will officially end as of December 31, 2019.

Philadelphia exercised their options for Anthony Fontana and Matt Real.

RSL declined Danilo Acosta's option. Sebastian Saucedo is out of contract. They exercised their options for Justen Glad, Brooks Lennon, and Tate Schmitt.

San Jose exercised their option on Jackson Yueill. Eric Calvillo and Gilbert Fuentes either received new contracts or had their 2020 options automatically vest by reaching certain performance thresholds during the 2019 season.

Seattle exercised Handwalla Bwana's option.

Sporting Kansas City declined Gedion Zelalem's option.

FC Cincinnati announced their decisions in October. Rashawn Dally and Tommy McCabe had their options picked up.

FC Dallas announced their decisions on October 29th. Reggie Cannon, Jesus Ferreira, and Bryan Reynolds had their options picked up.

 

What is the problem with Zelalem? Is he not good enough for even MLS or is he hurt, some other issue? Find it hard to believe a guy this highly touted couldn't' make an MLS roster.

 

Believe it. Has always been pure hype.

 

He's too passive to be a #10 and lacks the work rate or defensive ability to be an 8 or a regista-style 6.

He has great passing technique, but he's a tweener anywhere you put him on the field.

 

I always remind myself that his career-altering injury occurred while on US duty.

He may have been "hype" in terms of the elite, international level. And by the way, not just US-based hype. England and Germany-based hype too. But prior to that injury he certainly looked like he'd be at least an MLS level player. You are correct that he needs to define a role.

Still only 22. Somebody will take a chance on him.

 

Didn't see Nashville redirected Vazquez to Cincy. Would prefer he just wound up with the fresh expansion side. Couldn't get less competent than Cincy. They were an unmitigated joke. And cf's are dependent upon the other players on their team not royally sucking.

I'm ambivalent about him leaving Atlanta. They seemed increasingly willing to integrate youth. At the same time remaining there meant he would have been blocked by Josef and other DP attackers unless health didn't permit.

 

Saucedo being on a free could get a little interesting. Especially after he performed well in front of a European audience against Brasil's u-23's he might want to test the waters there. What that would mean, I don't know entirely. He was a decently performing, inconsistent, sometimes starter for RSL. Maybe a mid table Portugese side or someone to that effect takes a crack. Otherwise a return to Liga MX to prove he can hack it there now that he's more mature makes sense. I think he would start on most teams.

 

Why did ATL pick up Carleton's option.

His last MLS mins came on March 30. He wasn't making the 18 down the stretch of the season.

He's clearly not in their plans.

 

Either he is in their plans....................or they feel like they can get something for him via sale/trade. Even a draft pick is something.

 

Carleton at least showed well enough in USL down the stretch and obviously has enough talent where the club thinks that they can get $80,000 out of him this year on the team or more than likely another team will give up more than that much to get him.

 

Gio Reyna is now running things at Austin FC. This is great news and will be a good presence in Texas to mine all the talent in the region.

 

This is the reason. Full stop.