With the MLS transfer window closing in under 30 hours, D.C. United is apparently going to make a move. Multiple reports have the Black-and-Red sending $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money to the Portland Timbers in exchange for Lithuanian international Vytautas Andriuskevicius (who goes by Vytas). Vytas, 27, has a green card and would not require an international roster spot.
Ives Galarcep of Goal.com broke the news of a trade on Twitter, with Steve Goff of the Washington Post revealing the details of the transaction. Goff is also reporting that Portland, a frequent trading partner for United in recent years, will keep half of the left back’s wages on their salary budget. The most recent MLS Players Union figures list Vytas as making $250,000 as a base salary, and $271,875 guaranteed.
Vytas has just 3 league appearances this year for the Timbers, as Giovanni Savarese has preferred Zarek Valentin at left back this year. Under Caleb Porter, Vytas was a regular, making 34 appearances (29 starts) in a one-and-a-half seasons in the Rose City, picking up 1 goal and 4 assists. He also started both of Portland’s playoff games last year, notching an assist on their lone postseason goal.
After starting his career with FBK Kaunas in Lithuania, Vytas has played in the top flight in Poland and Sweden as well as the Dutch second division. He has 26 caps for Lithuania, including 5 appearances (4 starts) in 2018 World Cup qualifying.
Barring any last-second collapse of the reported deal, Vytas would be battling with Joseph Mora for the starting job at left back. Mora has struggled since coming to MLS, and United had made it known that they were pursuing defenders in this transfer window. However, with the Timbers, Vytas was rather similar. He has been able to impact games going forward a bit more often than Mora has, but has also been routinely targeted by opposing attacks. At 6’2”, Vytas would at least add some needed height to a team that has had its issues on set pieces (for example, 5’11” Wayne Rooney found himself marking 6’7” Axel Sjoberg in a recent win over Colorado).