Rapids President Tim Hinchey said Tuesday the club is looking to add an attacking player this offseason as the club’s second designated player in team history.
The timeline on when a DP deal could get done, however, may take some time to develop. The , and the league’s new collective bargaining agreement should be in place by the end of December or beginning of January.
Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni (second from right) talks with Gabriel Torres during Colorado’s season-opener against New York. (Julio Cortez, The Associated Press)
With the (worth , about triple the previous contract) taking effect next year, chances are good that MLS clubs will have more money to spend this offseason — on better players. And the expansion draft has potential to shake up the Rapids’ roster.
Designated players, whose contracts don’t count against the salary cap, are no slam dunk. () The , has had trouble earning playing time this season, scoring three goals and adding an assist in 22 games, only 10 of which have been starts. The Rapids have said repeatedly that Torres still figures into the club’s long-term plans.
More on the Gunners
Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni plans to take a trip to London this offseason to take a look at how Arsenal does business and to do a little scouting. The trip was tentatively planned for November, but no solid dates have been nailed down.
“For me it’s about gaining experience and looking at that world from a different perspective,” Mastroeni said Tuesday.
Mastroeni said it will be a good opportunity for him to see how the Gunners’ training sessions are run and to observe a different philosophy. Rapids’ Steve Cooke will also travel to England to scout players, and Mastroeni said he plans to meet up with Cooke on the tail end of his trip.
