The Vancouver Whitecaps have been teasing their first MLS signing today, even publishing an article on their website calling him a "USA World Cup star," and it's really not very hard to figure out who that's going to be.
Vancouver Whitecaps Playing Coy With Jay DeMerit Signing
Look around the world for anyone who has played for the U.S. in World Cup that is currently without a contract and still a viable player. Add that up with reports earlier this year and you'll be left with one clear frontrunner: Jay DeMerit.
Just to add strength to the rumor, USA teammate Jozy Altidore even congratulated DeMerit on signing with the Whitecaps on Twitter.
Reading a little more between the lines, you’ll notice no mention of the words “Designated Player,” something that would probably be worth sharing if that was the case. From that, we can reasonably assume they’ve convinced DeMerit to sign for something less than the $335,000 cap hit that is the maximum amount a DP would count against the salary budget (hey, Don Garber insists it’s not a salary cap, so sue me...).
Why the Whitecaps are dropping such clear hints without just coming out and making the official announcement doesn’t really make much sense, (but then neither does pricing the seats behind the goal as more expensive than the ones behind the corner flag...).
The signing won’t be the flashiest in MLS this offseason, but it at least signals a certain seriousness from the team (even if the way they are announcing it isn’t).
By spending some real money on a defensive player who is hardly a household name but still a viable international, the Whitecaps are showing they intend to spend some money in in ways that are about more than just selling tickets.
DeMerit has 23 caps with U.S. team and started all four matches during the World Cup at centerback. He’s not flashy, but has proven to be solid. This will be his first tenure with a MLS team, as he cut his teeth as a professional with a seventh-tier team in England before signing with Watford where he played 182 league games.
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