Seriously, is this a track meet? Nope, it’s just the madness of January’s international transfer market for teams across Major League Soccer, including the Colorado Rapids.
Colorado is certainly treating the window like it’s a 4×400 relay, passing the baton smoothly from one potential signing to the next. With up to four new international signings completed by the end of the month, the pace for the campaign has been set after a grim 2022.
The 2023 edition of the Rapids Mailbag is back, and so too are fun questions.
Are (the Rapids) getting a left back signing?
Jason Maxwell, Arvada
It looks like it, Jason. Lucas Esteves’ loan expired, and Auston Trusty, a left-sided center back who covered as much ground as anyone, is also gone. It left 35-year-old Steven Beitashour and largely untested-but-promising Anthony Markanich to fill the void.
Sources told The Post Wednesday that Colorado is close to acquiring Australian international Alex Gersbach from Grenoble, a team in the French second division. At 25, he could be in Commerce City for a few seasons.
That being said, Colorado needed one, and while the market price for outside backs is high, the best option to find a talented, affordable player in their prime looks ultimately to be overseas.
Which game on the schedule would you bet will be the quintessential snow game this year at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park? Let’s make a prediction.
Matthew Schmiemann, Denver
What a fun question, Matthew. Let’s go to 9News weatherman and Chilean soccer aficionado Chris Bianchi, who survived last year’s bitterly-cold Comunicaciones game and read what he’s got to say.
“Gimme the March 18th game. March is our snowiest month of the year, and it’s smack dab in the middle of it. Plus it’s Minnesota at home. Smells like a Snow Clasico!”
Thanks for the assist, Chris. Put me down for April 1 against LAFC, as Denver averages around 8.8 inches for the month. It could make for an epic Western Conference “snowdown”.
This is probably a dumb question, but is there a possibility that Arsenal’s success will have a “trickle down” effect for the ‘Pids (ex. more willingness for KSE to spend, etc)?
Dustin Hahn, Denver
Nope, that’s a great question, Dustin. Sports franchises all want the same thing: to win titles. When there are multiple parties involved (City Football Group, Red Bull, etc), there’s no such thing as being too interconnected because each team has something to bring to the table in order to make the best decisions for the good of the organization.
It’s clear how much the Rapids’ front office values the relationship with Arsenal, the Premier League leaders. As GM Pádraig Smith told me last year:
“We’re fortunate — whether it’s scouting, youth development, whatever it may be, it’s a wonderful advantage to able to pick up the phone and be able to chat with the Arsenal guys about things.”
With that much institutional knowledge and collective wisdom on either end of a call, it’s not a trickle down, rather, a river of information stretching from London to Commerce City. If the Gunners win the Premier League, will it impact Colorado’s summer budget? Probably not, but it’ll improve internal metrics and scouting for the future, which will be invested in even more.
Bringing in a new DP plus a couple likely starters from Europe during this transfer window indicates to me the Rapids are willing to spend more money than normal. Is that due to the UCHealth sponsorship and Apple TV deals, or has Pádraig (been) given more room to cook? Can you elaborate on this?
Jarrett, Denver
It’s a combination of factors, Jarrett. First, 2022 was miserable and it left glaring gaps the front office had to address.
Second, the front office knew where they lacked and came out with an ultra-aggressive recruiting strategy to return to 2021-like form.
Lastly, two parts — and this is just my opinion — but UC Health, the Rapids’ first shirt sponsor since 2021, likely is hoping to see its significant investment pay off in a small way in the opening season with strong results to begin the partnership. Regarding Apple TV, while it’s groundbreaking, as it will help teams net more money than ever before in the long-run, I’m told it has not impacted the transfer budget. The twin billing though, does add to the hype that it is a significant offseason.
While neither revenue stream can be confirmed as a direct correlation yet, Colorado is still searching for diamonds in the rough for a fraction of the cost, team executives are armed with a bad taste in their mouths with even more data (see KSE/Arsenal connections above).
Drive is ultimately at the heart of this spending “spree.”
