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MLS Ticker: Rapids sign Klute, Irwin; Galaxy loan three to reserves; and more

ClintIrwinColoradoRapids3 (ColoradoRapids)

By CAITLIN MURRAY

The Colorado Rapids have signed goalkeeper Clint Irwin and defender Chris Klute to new contracts, the club announced Friday.

Irwin, who joined the Rapids last year after a trial, became the starting goalkeeper when veteran Matt Pickens was injured early in the season. Irwin went onto finish the year with a franchise record-tying 10 shutouts and a goals against average of 1.10.

Klute made a name for himself after the injury of Diego Calderón last year cleared a starting spot. Klute started every game after that, earning a team-leading seven assists.

But when the Colorado Rapids look to fend off reigning champs Sporting Kansas City this weekend, they’ll have to do it without Klute or Dillon Serna.

“Serna’s an ankle sprain, and he’s not going to be ready for this game,” coach Pablo Mastroeni told reporters Thursday. “We’ll just reassess it early next week. And Klute, as well, won’t be ready for this game.”

Klute strained his hamstring in the Rapids’ season-opener and isn’t expected to return until mid-April. Serna sprained his ankle in training last week.

Here’s the rest of what happened in Major League Soccer on Friday:

GALAXY LOAN THREE TO RESERVES; RILEY OUT FOR SIX MONTHS

As the Los Angeles Galaxy sent three of its players to its reserves squad, another finished a surgery that means six months out.

Goalkeeper Brian Rowe, forward Chandler Hoffman and defender Tommy Meyer will join Galaxy II in USL Pro, the club announced Friday.

The Galaxy first-team players will be part of the mix with players independently signed directly to LA Galaxy II. The Galaxy II are the first USL Pro team to be owned and operated by an MLS club, an experiment that could lead to more MLS clubs jumping from partnership to full ownership if it succeeds.

Meanwhile, defender James Riley will be out six months after a successful surgery Thursday to repair a left lateral meniscus tear, the club announced.

Riley signed with the Galaxy last month after a preseason trial, making the club his sixth in 10 MLS seasons.

DEMPSEY MOVING ON FROM SUSPENSION, BUT GRATEFUL FOR KLINSMANN BACKING

After being slapped with a two-game suspension, Clint Dempsey says he is moving on.

“Disappointed,” Dempsey flatly told reporters Thursday of his reaction to the suspension. “I don’t agree with it. It is what it is and move on.”

Dempsey had been suspended last week for violent misconduct and fined an undisclosed amount after the MLS Disciplinary Committee determined his smack to Toronto FC defender Mark Bloom below the belt was deliberate.

U.S. Men’s National Team coach Jurgen Klinsmann jumped to Dempsey’s defense, pointing out Dempsey is one of the most fouled players in the league and arguing there were other missed fouls in the game that should’ve carried red cards.

Dempsey said Thursday he appreciated Klinsmann’s support.

“It’s always good to know that the manager has your back,” Dempsey said. “All I can do is keep working hard, keep working on my fitness after training and make sure that I play well when with I’m with the national team, like I’ve always done in the past, and make sure I keep playing well with the national team moving forward and pay him back for his faith in me.”

EARTHQUAKES LOAN FUCITO TO USL PRO’S SAC REPUBLIC

Sacramento Republic FC is getting a boost from the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Quakes have loaned forward Mike Fucito to the Republic in USL Pro, both clubs announced Friday. Fucito, 27, joined San Jose last year in a trade with the Portland Timbers for a second-round MLS SuperDraft pick and made seven appearances for the Quakes until a season-ending injury.

The Quakes and the Portland Timbers had partnered with the Republic earlier this year as part of MLS’ agreement to affiliate its clubs with USL Pro franchises.

The Republic will play their first-ever regular season match against Galaxy II on Saturday.

SOUNDERS SIGN MARTINQUE NATIONAL TEAM FORWARD PARSEMAIN

The Seattle Sounders signed forward Kevin Parsemain, the club announced Friday.

Parsemain joined Seattle off a stint with Riviere-Pilote in Martinque’s top league, co-leading the Sounders in goals this preseason with three in six appearances.

Parsemain is also a leading scorer for Martinque’s national team, including a goal at last year’s CONCACAF Gold Cup.

TORONTO SIGNS CANADIAN NATIONAL TEAM MIDFIELDER NAKAJIMA-FARRAN

Toronto FC has signed Canadian National Team midfielder Issey Nakajima-Farran, the club announced Friday.

“We are very excited to get this deal finalized and bring Issey on as an official member of Toronto FC,” general manager Tim Bezbatchenko said in a statement. “Issey has been training with the club on and off for a number of weeks and is quite familiar with the coaches and players. We needed to add another wide player to our roster and we are confident he will be able to fit in nicely here at TFC.”

Nakajima-Farran has 30 caps for Canada and began his career in Japan’s J-League.

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What do you think of today’s MLS news? Glad to see the Rapids lock down Irwin and Klute? Like the other signings announced around the league today? Think the Galaxy II experiment is working well?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. The Galaxy, were, at time, the envy of may MLS clubs for their ability to bring in excellent players and yet stay under the salary cap. It didn’t work all the time as they gave up some great players because of salary considerations (Ricketts). They were also able to use the various roster exemptions like those for home-grown players to geat effect.

    Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t a “loan” to “Los Dos” clear the players salary off the 30-man player roster that counts toward the salary cap? If so, I can see every team in the MLS eventually aligning/buying a lower-division pro-team to keep their up and coming young players and at the same time. move them off the roster salary cap to make room for an older, more expensive but experienced player a team may need in the short term?

    Expect Bruce Arena and the Galaxy make a move to shore up any deficiencies in the line-up with salary cap savings earned by moving players to the Galaxy II. A model that will be followed by almost every MLS team!

    Reply
    • It’s an edge. It helps them in the short-term, as you pointed out, because they can grab vets who can contribute now, and because they can stash young players and get them quality PT. Also allows sign-and-sell deals where they sign a young guy from Galaxy II…and then promptly re-deal them for money or players, rather than just casting that player to the winds and allowing others to pick them up for free.

      Over time, I think it’ll have a particularly big effect because I think in 3-4 years time you’ll see a Galaxy team with a much younger, much deeper roster full of homegrown players who did their seasoning in Galaxy II.

      Other clubs that can’t afford this investment are going to have a lot more of a problem.

      Reply
  2. I’m surprised to see Mike Fucito being loaned out, I thought he was ready for regular time. I don’t follow SJ all that closely though. I hope I spelled everything right.

    Reply

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