At first glance, the trade that sent Mauro Rosales from Chivas USA to the Vancouver Whitecaps in exchange for Nigel Reo-Coker doesn't seem to make much sense. Well, not for Chivas USA anyway. Rosales has been arguably Chivas USA's best player and has been the engine that drives whatever offense they've been able to muster.
There has to be more to this Mauro Rosales-Nigel Reo-Coker trade
Might Chivas USA be opening up a Designated Player spot for a bigger signing?
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Not only was he as important an offensive player as they have, but on a team just dying to make connections with their fans, Rosales was likable, popular and had the kind of resume anyone would respect. Chivas may not have many fans, but the ones they do have were not happy to learn of his departure.
We try to stay positive, we try to keep up a facade that we are ok. We said it will get better...but honestly it is hard very hard.
— Black Army 1850 (@BlackArmy1850) August 22, 2014 Chivas don’t seem to have a particular need for Reo-Coker, either. Although he’s versatile and can play as a full back or just about anywhere in the midfield, he doesn’t really excel at anything anymore and his best position is defensive midfielder, which is one position Chivas seem to have reasonably well covered.
The trade at least make some sense for the Whitecaps. Reo-Coker had fallen out of favor and had played just one minute since starting on July 16 and was making close to $500,000, according to players’ union data. Rosales might not be the exact kind of player that the Whitecaps need to push them into the playoffs, but he’s a true wide player on a team that was in desperate need of someone who could provide service. At the very least, he should be of use, something Reo-Coker was increasingly not.
While it’s entirely possible that Chivas simply made a head-scratching move -- it would hardly be the first time -- there seems to be at least some reason to believe there’s another shoe about to drop.
Jermaine Jones is apparently ready and willing to join MLS, but only under the right circumstances. The latest report suggests there's a contract off waiting on the table for him, but that he's not ready to sign it until he knows where he'll play. The Chicago Fire and the New England Revolution are apparently the two teams interested, with Jones preferring Chicago.
But Jones has also made it known that he'd much rather play in Southern California, something that appeared to be impossible. The LA Galaxy don't have room on their roster and Chivas USA had the maximum three Designated Players as well. Or, they did anyway. With the trade of Rosales, Chivas USA suddenly have an open DP spot. Might MLS be willing to work some of its roster gymnastics in order to put Jones in a city he really wants to be and give Chivas USA a legitimate marketing tool while the league-owned team is trying to attract new owners? It would hardly be the craziest thing MLS has ever done.
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