Is there any way to actually sign guys right now unless its someone just sitting around without a contract? I don't think there are any trade windows, free agency, or transfer windows open for a bit but I haven't had enough caffeine yet to try to look it up.
Correct, KC can't do anything with any players in the league that will be in any of 50 drafts and free agency that MLS has. I mean we know it's moving along but just because Lee's here doesn't mean the lack of news leaking out from the club was actually going to change.
Walker Zimmerman is available via free agency. Yes he's 32. As the PV era demise demonstrated, nothing matters if you don't get the CB pairing right. And it hasn't been in KC since Besler/Opara. Miller/Zimmerman - make it happen.
Nashville dumped him to free up a DP spot. If he wants a big contract with lots of years, agree its a pass. But he is still a good CB with miles left on the tires. Christian Espinoza is also a free agent. Free agency crop seems better than usual this year.
Espinoza is much MUCH higher on my list than Zimmerman would be. I'm not sure there's a lot of miles left on the tires. I worry it's similar to Besler where when he fell off it came hard.
I do love Espinoza. But is he enough of an add to go with a 3 and 3 setup? He's 30, earned $2m this year, would want that or more next year, which is probably what was in the option SJ didn't pick up. Max TAM, to me, would be worth it, essentially taking Thommy's money. But I'm guessing that's already been the offer in SJ. As noted, I love watching him, but we're rebuilding from scratch, and neither Zimmerman at 34 or Espinoza at 30 say that.
I'd wonder if you could find a way to get creative with Espinoza's contract where he would be a TAM player and not have to go 3/3.
I'd prefer Espinoza over Zimmerman too. I know Lee is also all about possession and all that, but damn I'd love to see a team with a truly dangerous counter on it.
Zimmerman in 2025 missed 9 games to concussion ( I think we've had an all star CB with concussion issues), two to knee problems, and four to nats. Nashville had a lot of games, so he still played 24 times in all comps, and the nats callups do say he's still balling, but only 16 starts in league play. I do like the idea of Zimmerman, but his value has fallen as Buzz noted, through the floor of the DP and max TAM group. As we rebuild, he would be a massive upgrade over Fernandez, but I really doubt he'd take that kind of money ($1.1m). I want our primary focus to be the defense, but I think his number would decrease our ability to build an entirely new unit (around Miller?).
Zimmerman also hasn't played 2000 league minutes in three straight seasons now. Also, Opara was 24 when he came to KC on a super cheap deal. The fact they've both dealt with concussions is where the comparison between the two ends (at the time they were available to sign).
The current roster has 13 players, with 3 keepers. David Lee Roth has to add 15 plus players to that disaster. To say that adding a few older players is not within the context or rebuilding is a stretch. In MLS, players come in two of the three...cheap, young, good. You can't get all three. Both Espizoa and Zimmerman are still good. Neither is young. If they aren't expensive (they are free agents for a reason) I would take either. Walker still gets call ups. The defense needs to add AT LEAST 3 CBs. Why not have one that is actually skilled to play along side they youth? As for Espinoza, he's lot better than any of the wingers on the roster. A lot.
I go back to the Besler point, if Zimmerman is willing to take what Besler took in Austin ($650K) and a 1+1, I can be okay with it. Anything else and I don't think it's worth it.
If SKC decides that James is the next thing, and see a James Miller CB pairing as a locked in future, then Zimmerman makes sense, at the right price. A year or max 2 years of placeholding as James grows into MLS form. Even then, Zimmerman in 2024 was paid $3.4m. The only way to get him on SKC is to offer him DP money. The only way to use him as a DP is to move to the 3+3 model, so say farewell to another $2m. The suggestion is to get him on a deal. He's a free agent because Nashville didn't want to resign him at his current number. he's looking for someone who will, and barring that, someone who will come close. That cannot be SKC. So, yeah, at $1.1m, he'd be a nice upgrade. But if he's that done, to fall two thirds of his value in one season, does he re-sign, and why KC? As i said, I really do love Espinoza and think he'd be great. But he's 30. This is his last prime contract, and he was really good in 2024. Buzz wondered if we could get him on a max-TAM deal. I'm all for that. As i said, Thommy money, $1.6m or so. But he will have options, inside and outside of MLS. Is he looking to settle for a 25 percent pay cut? If not, we're back to the 3+3 model and $2m poorer. There, of course, is not likely to be any way to sign both. We have as many as 17 slots available, not sure how many are senior roster, so count against the cap. But a lot of those are cheap slots. We need to pick up five or six starters. Yeah, at least one is a CB. One is a right back. One is a left back. One is probably a keeper. One is definitely a Dmid. One is a wing. If we pick up Zimmerman as the CB, and he plays to form, so half our games, at $2.5m (we get him at a deal price), is he worth it? Does he help us in 2027? 2028?
He's top 5 in MLS IMO. Also, Lee's NYCFC side played a 4-2-3-1 which they sometimes called a double pivot 4-3-3. So we make assumptions. BUT He dumped our outside backs. All of them. Shelton and Brody and Leibold and Logan are all gone. Are we sure he isn't holding out the option to the new manager of running out a 3-5-2, 3-4-3. etc. with 3 CBs? Regarding Zimmerman, can you base that around a guy who you know coming in should only be counted on for half the games?
I'm moving on from Zimmerman. You guys aren't thrilled and are starting to convince me. Lee's team played half their matches in a baseball stadium. I wouldn't make too many judgements about style of play. As much as I'd love to see a manager play a 3-5-2 or 3-4-3, talking formations when the roster is 10 field players and 3 keepers seems a bit premature. As is, his impact subs are keepers.
Totally agree. I think assuming anything is premature before the manager arrives. i don't think there's any way to move our DPs onto max TAM deals, is there? Obviously not with Jovelic, less obviously but still very much not with Manu. Am i missing something?
The key to improving the defense is using all three keepers for all 90 minutes. Just try and score on us now!
One of the few bright spots for that poor SKCII team. https://www.sportingkc.com/news/spo...roduct-cielo-tschantret-as-a-homegrown-player
On the bright side, the team Roth put together beat No 1 seed Philly last night, without their best player and while missing several other very good players.