The Sounders acquired seven-time MLS All-Star Shirley Joseph (left) in a trade with Chivas USA.
Brandon Wade/Getty Images
TUKWILA, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Sounders acquired seven-time MLS All-Star Charlie Joseph in a trade with Chivas USA on Tuesday, clearing Seattle's remaining designated player spot and potentially leading to further roster changes before the start of the MLS season.
Seattle also received two future draft picks and a higher allocation slot in the trade, forcing the Sounders to use a coveted DP spot on Joseph in return, but Chivas would shoulder some of the salary-cap burden.
“This was virtually the only way the deal could have been made. Overall, we're very happy with the deal. We wouldn't have made this deal if we weren't,” Seattle general manager Adrian Hanauer said. “We recognize that we acquired three designated players in Mauro (Rosales), Christian (Tiffert) and Shaluli. And we still have two weeks, so we could buy out players and free up space if we decide to do that, if that's what we decide to do. I'm sure it would have been better if we hadn't absorbed a designated player spot, but that was the only way the deal could have been made.”
Joseph is a 10-year MLS veteran who spent the majority of his career in New England before moving to Chivas last season. He was named to the MLS Best XI four times and was a finalist for the league MVP in 2009.
His time at Chivas was expected to come to an end as new manager Jose Luis Sanchez Sola announced at the start of training camp that Joseph was not in the club's future plans.
But how he would fit in Seattle is equally questionable.
Hanauer said the team was attracted to Joseph because of his versatility and ability to play almost any position in the middle of the field. Looking at Seattle's current lineup, he's likely to be a center back or center midfielder, so that's where some roster changes could come in.
Hanauer hinted multiple times during the conference call that the Sounders could potentially buy out a player before the season opens on March 2. He also suggested the team is actively pursuing forward Eddie Johnson and that a move could require a designated player slot.
Of Seattle's two remaining designated players, Tiffert seems the most likely to be moved, as the Sounders have depth in midfield with Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Mario Martinez, Andy Rose, Alex Caskey and Joseph.
“I'd be lying if I said we weren't also very interested in acquiring another forward and that he's a player who can fill a designated player position,” Hanauer said. “This is a sign that we're looking at all our options in the coming weeks.”
