What Trade Would You Make?

No way Colorado does that. Mastroeni is the best d-mid in the league. Spencer can still score goals.

Pope is a very good defender. Best in the league? Eh, arguable. Moreno is a huge X factor. He may return and score 20 goals, he may never return at all.

 

I'd take a straight Etch-for-Spencer trade. Valderrama might have something to say about it, though.

 

Is Carlos V. actually coming back for another season?! (just wondering...)

 

Although Hudson loves both Mastroeni and Spencer, I don't think he'd do that deal (and I"m positive that Colorado wouldn't do it--they don't need a central defender so Pope doesn't help them but with El Pibe, they do need a defensive mid with range and possession skills--b/c Pibe has no work rate).

Hudson wouldn't do this deal b/c it still puts us in a bind. We add a finisher (Spencer) and holding mid. But we're still capped out with a bunch of players due pay increases or bonuses of sorts. And Amman's salary isn't enough to cover all that. And Richie Williams was on the Scum's cap this year (so cutting him doesn't free up money for us). Which means that to add more forward depth and a scheming midfielder, we'd still have to cut Etcheverry (and then get a schemer for less than the maximum). I know, some would argue shift Convey to the middle. He was effective there at then end--but he also had help in the middle (etcheverry). And Mapp isn't ready to take over the left side.

Basically that means we'd dump our 3 max. salary players (Pope, Etcheverry and Spencer) and still have cap problems (unless we go with Villegas, Convey, Olsen at 3 midfield spots--not the kind of support Convey needs to succeed in that role I think).

If we were to dump all 3 maximum salary players (Moreno, Pope, Etcheverry), I"m very confident that Hudson would find 3 good replacements for less money rather than the same amount. Which means we'd improve and also help ourselves with the cap (which makes a difference the next year if Quaranta, Mapp, Olsen or Convey have breakout seasons and are due additional money).

I think if we make a trade, it is likely to try to create cap room (unlikely--most other MLS teams are in the same boat--they need cap room), or trade for an MLS vet not making the max (such as Rodriguez if he'd agree to a cut, Dante Washington--guys of that nature).

 

All of his salary (or just the amount he made above Kamler)? Or if he was fully on theirs, was Kamler on ours? Or were they so nice to us that we lost all of Kamler's salary but didn't gain any of Richie's?

 

The way I heard it was that the SoS were carrying the "bulk" of ABMOD's salary on their cap. I had assumed that Williams either counted for the league minimum or just a little above it. It was one of those moves (like the league and RDA) where the league felt it made sense for Richie to be in DC, Ray wanted him, SoS didn't want him, and unless a cap arrangement was made, he would have stayed with the Scum. However, all of this is second hand.

 

I seemed to remember reading the "bulk" thing too (although maybe I just read a previous post of yours), but wonder if that might just mean that they paid whatever he cost over-and-above Kamler, who I assumed made even less (thus making it a status-quo trade from the salary perspective).

Anyway, do you think Richie is making just a hair more than the minimum? If so, he's a better player-per-dollar guy than I thought.

Mark

 

Mark, I wasn't clear. My understanding is that Richie is making far more than league minimum (6 figures is my understanding). What I meant by the "hair more than minimum" was that I thought DCU was either paying the league minimum for his salary (and the Scum the rest) or we were paying somewhat over the minimum but not much more than that.

 

That makes sense... and would be close to them having made a "salary status-quo" deal with DC essentially paying Kamler's salary (counting it against the cap, in any case) and the Scum picking up Williams' deal on their cap.

If Richie is making a good deal more than the minimum, as we both assume, and it'd all count against our cap in '03, then his return would appear that much less likely (I believe that's a nice way of saying "not gonna happen").

Mark

 

Well, as long as we're doing preposterous trades (i.e. ones the other team would probably never do) I'd try to get Simon Elliott. I seriously doubt that we could do it, but if LA loses in the finals--again--then who knows, maybe Sigi would think about it.

To DC United: Simon Elliott, #10 overall SuperDraft pick

To LA Galaxy: Jamie Moreno, #1 overall SuperDraft pick

If Moreno can get back into shape and form, it's a good trade for Sigi, even at Moreno's age. But the gamble is too much most likely.

For United, it would give Hudson his Bishop-like player who can lead on and off the field, while playing excellent defense and good offense. Also, Elliott can use any surface of either foot well, kinda amazing ... oh yeah, and he doesn't get injured. Obviously it unites (pun intended) the Kiwis ahead of their Confederations Cup and the next World Cup Qualifiers, so it would be an incentive for both of them. But I seriously doubt Sigi would trade Elliott, even if we offered Reyes.

-Tron

 

Re: Re: What Trade Would You Make?

I'd trade a cap for a Guinness.

-Tron

 

This will never happen. Be realistic.

 

I totally agree with you... yes its preposterous but it would be a great trade in fantasy world. Elliott is Cinfuegos' replacement for the future- if not now. I mean that Elliott will be running the LA midfield in the future (he is arguably running the midfield now). Elliott would be an absolute steal for DC. But the last I heard we were still thinking of picking up Cinfuegos for Etcheverry (a rumor last year, right?).

 

Villegas for Rooney.

 

I think Rooney's days as a Rev are just about over, but if they're going to trade him to DCU, they're going to be looking for a draft pick. New England doesn't need a backup right-sided midfielder - especially when they're trying to dump salary so that they can give Twellman a significant raise.

I don't doubt that Rooney will end up at DCU next year. I just don't think that's the deal.

 

Actually, I think Rooney's chances of ending up here (DCU) are not good. Yes, Hudson was a booster of him in Miami. But Arena was a booster of Lassiter when both were at United. Then, when Arena became National Team coach, did he call up Lassiter? Look at Trask's latest comments from Dyson. About how Rooney was effective b/c he was next to Bishop and now that he doesn't have Bishop next to him, you're seeing his limitations. This was in the context of how the right 1-2 key players in key roles can make everyone else look better.

Maybe Rooney ends up here. If so, it's as an afterthought, not a major acquisition that Hudson plans. It's b/c Rooney is cut loose and we can get him as a bargain (like we got McKinley) and the rest of the roster is pretty set.

 

Great point about Rooney and Bishop. I forgot about that article. Wow, this really is a difficult issue to forecast an outcome.

 

I think that you will see Dallas or KC making a trade before Colorado. I'm sure that Dustin or someone will pop in any moment to disagree...but I don't see either team being satisfied with their finish this season. Colorado is still alive, though pretty well licking its wounds. Dallas was successful enough during the regular season that I see them having some salary problems next year (especially with the extremely positive seasons for newcomers Johnson, O'Brien, Bonseu, and Morrow. Martinez and Rhine may command higher salaries next season.

Here is a sort of random thoughts set of semi-tradeable players for Dallas and DC:

from DC - Pretty much everybody but Quaranta, Rimando, Convey, Reyes, and possibly Pope is on the blocks. However, of those remaining I only see the following would draw even casual interest from other teams: Etcheverry, Moreno, Prideaux, Nelsen, Mapp, Villegas, and maybe Zambrano. I put Mapp in there because I see serious talent there and he may bust out in the U-20 qualifiers...who knows.

from Dallas - Kreis, O'Brien, Johnson, and Martinez are untouchable. There are a host of good talents remaining...Pareja, Bonseu, Deering, Zarco, and Rhine all being possibilities.

So if I had to narrow this down, I'd bet that we go after Pareja, Zarco, or Rhine. We'd offer Moreno, Etcheverry, Villegas, or Zambrano. My ideal scenario would be Moreno + Draft Pick for Rhine + Zarco.

Cheerios,
Tim

 

I'd have to disagree with you on the Dallas trade assessment Tim. IMHO, the untradeables are Suarez, Vaca, Martinez, Morrow, Bonseu, Pareja and Kreis. Johnson and O'Brien are negotiable, but it would be a high price. If United were to make a trade with Dallas, the only players I can see us going after are Johnson or Zarco.

The only players I see Dallas wanting from United would be Rimando, Reyes or Nelsen. Obviously, it's doubtful that there is a trade that makes sense unless it involves some other variables (i.e. Ernie Stewart enters the SuperDraft and they trade for our first overall pick).

-Tron