Looking through the recently posted lists of players available through "Free" Agency and on the initial Re-Entry Draft list, one can't help but consider if there is anyone out there who fills the needs DCU has (or will likely have as we watch the #23 jersey sail over the horizon to Europe).
A few names jumped out at me as players who would either fill a need or just plain challenge our current presumed starters. At the top of that list is Oscar Boniek Garcia. With a price tag of just over $300K (using Gauranteed Comp from 2015 according to the MLS Players Union Website), Garcia is in the prime of his career at 27, and is a creative and scoring threat from the Midfield. Yes, we just picked up Lamar Neagle to cover the loss of Chris Pontius, but if Garcia isn't headed for greener pastures outside MLS (I couldn't find any rumors one way or the other), he's worth the money.
Beyond that, the pickings get slim. Paulo Nagamura and Tony Cascio both present interesting possibilities in trying to fill the Perry Kitchen shaped void in our lineup. Nagamura is a solid MLS vet, which Ben Olsen obviously likes. If we can't make a trade for Will Johnson with Portland, Nagamura might make sense. However, he's 32 and his salary of $230,000 might be a bit much. Cascio is less proven, having shutled around the league looking for minutes. His salary of just over $112,000 is a bit more palatable for taking a risk on a player. I remember watching him a season or so ago with Columbus and thinking he was solid, if un-spectacular. Paired with either Halsti or Arnaud (or Johnson for that matter if he comes in and Arnaud has to retire), it would be interesting to see if Cascio could develop a bit further.
The search for left backs was frustrating. Steven Beitashour presents an interesting option. At just under 200k, he's a bit pricy, he's been solid in MLS for several years, and at 28 isn't over the hill. Can he play on the Left? Who knows, no web sites want to tell me which side of the defense he plays on. Tommy Meyer from LA is a Center Back, although at under 75K, I'd grab him up anyway for depth. Kevin Alston is mostly a right sided player. I can't remember if Jeremy Hall can play left back, but he's another cheap option (70K), assuming he's all the way healthy again. Nathan Sturgis, who's listed as both a Defender and a Midfielder, is another interesting budget option, but again, no one seems to want to specify if he plays on the left or not. Yes, I'm fixated with providing competition and cover for Taylor Kemp. Right sided players only interest me if the coaching staff still think Jalen Robinson needs more time in Richmond (or just isn't going to get there). Until Chris Korb is fully healthy, we need cover at outside back.
So, who jumps out at y'all?
