By:Aaron Campbell (Twitter:@AaCamp81)
As the 2016 MLS season is starting to rev its engines up at the start line before the fast paced season is begins, lets take a quick look at the Top 2 and Bottom 2 moves this past off season made by the Vancouver Whitecaps.
Top 2:
Blas Perez To Vancouver
Most supporters never thought they would see the day where Whitecap killer, Blas Perez, would be playing in a Vancouver Whitecaps kit. As rumors began swirling near the end of January about the potential move, the Whitecaps supporters hailed to twitter and let their feeling be heard about the move. With Perez having had run-ins in the past with David Ousted, Kendall Waston and Jordan Harvey, many were wondering if the players would be willing to welcome Perez to the team with their arms wide open.
With each passing day of the preseason, it seemed more and more that Perez was fitting in great with his teammates. His play on the field, albeit only in preseasons games, showed that he has the nastiness and grit that these team was missing the past few seasons.
With the regular season only 6 days away don’t be surprised to see Perez not only be a permanent fixture within the 18, but also in the starting XI every now and then.
David Ousted Contract Extension
All off-season there was talk about All-Star goalkeeper David Ousted’s interest in signing a contract extension with some reports stating that he was still interested in potentially making a move to Europe before the end of his career. Throughout the preseason there were many updates about on-going talks and reports that they were close to an extension.
It was announced that he has signed for two years and a option for a third season a few weeks back. It is a great move for the team locking up Ousted for the future along with Matias Laba, Octavio Rivero and Kendall Waston. Although the specifics of his salary were not released as per club and MLS policy, expect him to be among the highest paid keepers in the MLS in the $380k-$410K salary range.
Bottom 2
Walking Away From Steven Beitashour
This move caught fans by surprised when it was announced on twitter more then three weeks before the club officially announced it. What most fans don’t realize is that Beitashour’s new team, Toronto FC, is paying him drastically more than the Whitecaps were willing to commit to. With a salary of $195K last season in Vancouver, it has been talked about behind the scenes that this season he will making somewhere in the $240K-$260K range.
With how high Carl Robinson is on Costa Rican right back Jordan Smith, there was no way in a salary cap league, Robinson was willing to spend that on Beitashour.
After getting the salary off the books Robinson was able to get Canadian National Team player Fraser Aird from Rangers FC in Scotland 2nd division on a loan with an option to buy for the upcoming season. Even though Aird is a natural right winger he does have experience at the right back from his time in Scotland and playing for the national team.
Moving On From Mauro Rosales
The only reason the Whitecaps were able to sign Blas Perez was because they traded Rosales’ MLS rights to FC Dallas to acquire his. A rare trade move in MLS where a player not wanted by one team is traded for the rights of a player not wanted by another team. In most cases both players would be free agents and able to sign directly with the club that wanted them.
Even though Rosales was an ex-Seattle Sounder player he was a crowd favorite in Vancouver. Rosales was always willing to make time for the fans and media, was known to mentor the younger player during practices and was nothing but professional on and off the pitch.
It seems that Rosales has fit in nicely with his FC Dallas teammates and I wish him nothing but good luck this season with his new team.
