United Picks Up Marcelo Saragosa

by beardyblue on Feb 6, 2012 12:44 PM EST

Steven Goff reported and DC United has since confirmed the signing of 30-year old MF Marcelo Saragosa. Saragosa has previously played in Brazil, 116 career matches here in MLS for LA, Dallas, and Chivas before spending the last two seasons in the Azerbaijan First Division.

According to GM Dave Kasper, "We are pleased to have concluded a deal to bring Marcelo to DC. He is well-acquainted with our League and brings additional depth to a midfield we feel is already one of the best in the League."

As Goff said, this looks like a depth move, as he is likely to replace DM Perry Kitchen when he's out on U-23 USMNT and Olympic duty in the coming months.

Is this something we should get excited about? He sounds like a solid, experienced player who will add continued depth to the midfield. Does this have any roster implications?

Tweet Comment 12 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

About to sit down and write this one up

Short version: This isn’t a major signing, but we had to upgrade our depth at defensive midfield. Job done.

Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC

by ChestRockwell on Feb 6, 2012 12:51 PM EST reply actions

Feel free to steal this wholesale

And use it to keep going if you want to save yourself a few minutes. I just wanted to get something up to be like “sooo…. what do we think?”

A fair deal at RFK. A pathway to the Stadium. DC United is woven into the rich cultural tapestry that is the DC metropolitan area. Join us.
keepdcunited | Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter

by beardyblue on Feb 6, 2012 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

I came here to find out how I feel about this.

I remembered the name but couldn’t think of anything other than the blurb in the release.

Thanks for the short version Chest, that’s enough for me. lol

by BrunoReturns on Feb 6, 2012 1:20 PM EST reply actions

Long version isn't that long...for me at least

Under 1000 words!

Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC

by ChestRockwell on Feb 6, 2012 1:48 PM EST up reply actions

We also swapped an international roster spot to Portland for allocation money

Seems like a good deal to me, and possibly something we’ll use to pay down the salary of Branko (can we get him out of a DP designation?), or extend De Ro. Or maybe just pay for Salihi.

by Brendanukkah on Feb 6, 2012 1:36 PM EST reply actions

We can indeed avoid having 3 DPs with allocation money

Basically, if you have enough allocation money, you can lower a DP’s cap hit to the point that he no longer counts as a DP. You still have to pay him DP wages, but you don’t have to pay the $250k luxury tax.

It’s far easier to do with our DPs, as none will be making 7 figures.

Writer on SBN's DC United blog Black and Red United | @ChestRockwell14 | KEEP UNITED IN DC

by ChestRockwell on Feb 6, 2012 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

Really happy about that

I might be reaching, but I think this says we’re getting closer to finalizing a deal with DeRo, and we’re definitely looking to buy down one of the three DP salaries to get in under the luxury tax.

Vamos United; Boiler Up
Support your local club.
Black & Red United

by The AMT on Feb 6, 2012 1:56 PM EST up reply actions

Branko's seems to make the most sense to buy down

He doesn’t make that much over the threshhold, and he’s been hurt for most of his time here. I was just wondering if once a player is designated as a Designated Player on their current contract, that designation could change. For instance, we could use this allocation money to give De Ro a deserved pay raise, but pay it off with the allocation money so he wouldn’t have his status changed to DP and we avoid the tax hit. But De Ro really seems to want the designation of being a Designated Player, and it’s very easy to argue that he’s earned it more than Branko has. And Branko definitely has the potential and skills to be a Designated Player, but for having shown basically nothing in the league, he might be more amenable to not being a DP and instead earning it back.

by Brendanukkah on Feb 6, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

I also like the note that we're going to be having two young Brazilians on trial in Arizona

The Galaxy has done very well with young Brazilians, and before Saragosa and Maicon Santos, we’d done pretty well with Luciano Emilio and Fred as well, though they weren’t exactly young. I’d be pretty pleased if one of them was a left back.

by Brendanukkah on Feb 6, 2012 1:38 PM EST reply actions

My kingdom for a left fullback

Oh LAWD, do I hope we bring in a left fullback trialist. Right now, Korb is our primary depth on both corners, and as solid an option as he is, we need more help back there. I’m also on record as not being particularly thrilled about Woolard being our starter there (and I know I’m not exactly going out on a limb by saying so). At any rate, Arsenal’s 4-center-back lineups this season have pretty well shown the world what happens when you don’t have depth at fullback, and it ain’t pretty.

I’d also love to see a right-sided winger (since Cruz seems to project centrally, based on exhibition lineups) and nobody knows how much longer we’ll have Najar’s services on this side of the pond.

Word is, these trialists would be coming on loan deals, much like the ones LA has used recently (a la Juninho, IIRC), as have Philly and others. Presumably, that would help the cap hit, though it may lead to a tough decision down the road on whether to pay a transfer fee. That would be a very good problem to have, though.

Vamos United; Boiler Up
Support your local club.
Black & Red United

by The AMT on Feb 6, 2012 2:02 PM EST up reply actions