Crew 2022 to '23 Off-season Roster Thread

You all are being too hard on Pedro. I think when he first came, that was very much the case, but he adapted over time to the physical play and lack of calls.

 

While I suppose that I can bring myself to appreciate some aspect of Pedro Santos as a former Crew player (MLS Cup Champ, bruh), I never liked him as a player. I wish him and his family well though.

 

Booooooo.

 

Let me chaise lounge GM here (more comfortable than an armchair)..... there is an Expansion Draft coming up in two weeks. 5 teams not named Crew are exempt because they lost players in the last expansion draft (in Seattle fashion, the Crew are the reason that rule was finally created)... we can pickup options now and re-negotiate after the draft, if we want.

We can only protect 12 players so picking up some player options could be a deterrent from them getting picked in the expansion draft and then we can really get down to salary discussions after that. Some we might have picked up so that we can trade them for something useful later rather than let them get away for nothing (except, potentially, one player lost in the draft). The relative value of who we picked up versus who we declined kind of lean in that direction (regardless of what we personally think about said players).

 

When I get to that beautiful fortress next season, I owe you both beer and babysitting (AKA kid friends).

 

I'm your huckleberry....

 

I'm with the sandwich on this one.

I'll miss Pedro. I was exceptionally hard on him his first year here, which was frankly not good. But his play improved and he was a good servant to the club in his years here.

Additionally he led the team in tackles won this season, and in blocks. He may have gone down a bit too much for my liking when going forward. But you don't lead the team in tackles won or blocks if you are afraid of contact.

Obrigado, Pedro Santos. Enjoy the Portuguese sunshine. You deserve it.

 

More importantly does Pedro qualify for the Ring of Honor (or People that were Good and Their Pictures are Displayed Behind the Stadium on a Random Wall Club)?

 

Without actually looking up the qualifications, I'm going to say no.

 

He will once he fulfills the first item in the list.

In order to be eligible as a player:

• An individual must have been retired as a player for at least one (1) year
• Played at least four (4) seasons for the Crew
• Exception: Requirement to previous entry may be reduced to two years for a player who is named MLS Best XI, wins an MLS Individual Award or captains the Crew to the MLS Cup title in that time
• Appeared in at least 50 or more League matches for the club
• Win Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield or CONCACAF Champions League title

 

Technically, yes. But his addition would diminish the pedigree of those on (and future members of) the Circle of Honor.


**ducks**

 

Jeez, I forgot just how relaxed the criteria are.

 

Yes, but he'd need to get in line. There are at least half a dozen guys who deserve to have their likeness etched into a wall at LDC that nobody ever sees before he does.

And that's to say nothing of a guy like Zelarayan who is still years away from not getting honored by having his likeness hidden from public view.

I think Pedro is just gonna be out of luck.

 

I wish there was a wall for players who were on the team during STC and the championship. Those players will always have a special place in my heart.

 

This is exactly what Bez said that they tried to work out a deal but DEJ wants more than they are willing to offer. He obviously isn’t DP worthy. Is he worth 400k to me yea , 600k ? Idk but we don’t know how much he is seeking . But if he wants big money testing then market is the way too go. Hopefully nobody overpays him and it all works out. Wherever he lands if not here it might take a year before we find out his actual salary.

 

Come to my house. My oldest will not let me take down the Crew stuff circa 2018 on his door. The thing is starting to be a time relic.

 

Who we protect in expansion draft will be telling but if Nagbe was willing to redo his deal ( we could of declined his option ) your daring a team to take him at 1.8m and he can also retire and refuse to go. I really hope that’s what’s going on. I do think it’s a possibility and you beat me to the post. Unfortunately at work my phone gets no internet connection except in the Honda cafe on wifi.

 

Given that he grew up in the NYC suburbs, yes...

 

Pedro did a good job as a LB in 2022. He wore down over the course of the year as Porter ran him into the ground. I'd have liked to have a Santos/Sands combo at LB for next season so we could look for upgrades at other positions.

I sort of suspect that the team might be low on allocation money. Santos was above the DP limit this past season and was bought down as was Mensah. The installment payments on Zack Steffen have probably ended by now. I think we still get $250K for missing the playoffs but we probably have less flexibility for 2023 than we had for 2022. Maybe Degenek shows well at the WC and we can sell him for a few million. But otherwise we seem stuck with Molino, Yeboah, whatever we can get for Matan, and with Nagbe's overpay. That may be why we didn't try to negotiate Nagbe down to 1.5 or some number that could be bought down below the DP level. We didn't have the allocation money to buy him down.

 

I would say Circle of Honor goes beyond the criteria. Recipients are the best of the best in a crew jersey and should be obvious. Pipa, I believe, is the latest obvious choice. Lucas has a shot if he continues to show good stuff but wouldn't say he is lock. All opinion of course but I don't see Pedro even in a conversation or even close.

 

Couldn't agree more. Screw the criteria. Pipa belongs.

But the real embarrassment is GBS, and until he's named there's no reason to even discuss who's next.

 

GBS
Marshall
Pipa (doesn't meet current criteria)
Mensah
Lucas

Pedro was good but isn't anywhere near what these guys have done. I'd rather keep the honor wall fairly exclusive versus the current route that many HOFs are taking of lowering standards to let in anyone that's above average.

 

Pedro bobble head night. Thats a good enough honor for him.

 

You forgot Mike Clark on your list

 

Time to get silly.

25 year old Cuban winger/striker valued at $330k. #Crew96 https://t.co/2ZqKKsS8w7

— Crewrhino (@thecrewrhino) October 28, 2022