NFL
By Keith Richards
The final, final…final chapter of the tumultuous 2023 season for the Colorado Rapids is now complete. The Rapids posted their 2023 Year End Transactions, which gives better insight into what the team looks like heading into 2024. Still, what can we expect from the Rapids in 2024?
We’ll list the 2023 Year End Transactions for the Colorado Rapids. Then, we’ll take a look at what transactions were expected to help the team, or hurt the team, as they look forward to the 2024 season.
Rapids’ Player Under Contract in 2024
24 players head into the 2024 Rapids season under contract. Meaning, barring any transfers or purchases in the 2024 Winter Transfer Window, we can expect to see the following players next season:
Lalas Abubakar, Max Alves, Cole Bassett, Moise Bombito, Kevin Cabral, Daniel Chacon, Michael Edwards, Braian Galvan, Alex Gersbach, Andrew Gutman, Calin Harris, Marko Ilic, Aboubacar Keita, Jonathan Lewis, Andreas Maxso, Rafael Navarro, Sam Nicholson, Ralph Priso, Connor Ronan, Keegan Rosenberry, Sidnei Tavares, Jackson Travis, Danny Wilson, Darren Yapi
Rapids Options Exercised, Options Declined, Loans Expired, and Contracts Expired
The following players either had their 2024 option picked up by the Rapids, declined by the Rapids, or Colorado decided to let the loan expire or contract expire:
• Andrew Gutman (Option Exercised)
• Luis Diaz (Contract Expired)
• Sebastian Anderson (Option Declined)
• Calvin Harris (Option Exercised)
• Ralph Priso (Option Execised)
• Danny Leyva (Loan Expired)
• Diego Rubio (Contract Expired)
• Steven Beitashour (Option Declined)
• Oliver Larraz (Option Declined)
• Jack Price (Option Declined)
• Abraham Rodriguez (Option Declined)
• Gustavo Vallecilla (Option Declined)
• William Yarbrough (Option Declined)
Now, it is important to note that of the players who had their options declined by the Rapids, three of them are in discussions with the team: Anderson, Larraz, and Yarbrough. So, while they are not currently on the 2024 Rapids roster, they still could be soon.
Reviewing the Rapids’ 2023 Year-End Transaction
Fortunately (or unfortunately), the biggest year-end transactions for the Rapids came as soon as the season ended. The 2023 Year End Transactions Report makes it official, but both Jack Price and Diego Rubio announced they would no longer be with Colorado in 2024. So, while not surprising now, it was a big shock to hear that two cornerstones of the Rapids would not be with them moving forward.
It was expected that the Colorado Rapids would exercise the options for Gutman and Harris. When Colorado traded for Andrew Gutman, he made an immediate impact on the team. He was stellar and vital on the offensive and defensive ends of the pitch. That was an absolute no-brainer.
It was also a no-brainer for the Rapids to exercise the option for Calvin Harris. The 2021 Super Draft pick was acquired from FC Cincinnati in late 2022. Though Harris had a slow start with the Rapids, he really came on toward the end of the 2023 Rapids season. His speed and courage on the wing will play a huge role for Colorado in 2024.
The decisions for Danny Levya and Luis Diaz were expected. Though Levya did play important (needed) minutes for the team, he never really took off with the team. You can neither say that his play was extremely poor nor extremely well. Purchasing him from the Sounders would not have been a sound decision.
The same can be said for Luis Diaz. Diaz was picked up very late in the season off waivers from the Columbus Crew. Even though his pace on the pitch is out of this world, it did not translate to much scoring-wise. Admittedly, it’s a bit of a harsh assessment based on his limited team with the Rapids, but I think it just wasn’t going to work in the end.
The biggest surprise from the 2023 Year-End Transaction Report was that the squad declined the options for Anderson, Larraz, Yarbrough, and Rodriguez. The Rapids declining the option for Abe Rodriguez is especially puzzling when you consider the fact that the team also declined the option for William Yarbrough. That means that in 2024, Colorado only has one keeper under contract.
While the Rapids are currently in discussions with Yarbrough, those discussions may not bear any fruit. If they do not, then what’s Plan B for Colorado? Adam Beaudry is an intriguing prospect from Rapids 2. When the 2024 kickoffs, Beaudry still won’t be 18-years-old. Though he’s had success with Rapids 2 and could be the future for the Rapids, it’s too soon to name him as the backup keeper for the first team.
Sebastian Anderson and Oliver Larraz were huge surprises as well. The two homegrown products and Rapids 2 standouts seemed to be locked for the 2024 plans for the club. That, however, is not a certain thing as of now. While the team is in discussions with both if they cannot come to an agreement, they will lose valuable depth and two potential members of the Starting XI.
Anderson played great minutes for Colorado at the end of the 2023 season. Larraz is brimming with potential and could be a lethal force for Colorado in the midfield. Losing both players would be crushing to a team that’s already thin.
Upcoming Rapids Roster Decisions
The biggest roster decision that the team still has to make for the 2024 season is whether or not to purchase Rafael Navarro. Colorado loaned Navarro from S.E. Palmerias in July of this past season. The loan expires on June 30, 2024. That means that they will have the offseason and approximately four months of league play to figure out the decision to purchase Rafael.
If the Rapids do decide to purchase Navarro from Palmerias, they would owe his Brazilian club a hefty amount. $4.5 million to be exact. Though Rafael does come with the cap flexibility of being a Designated Player, that $4.5 million has huge implications for other decisions the Rapids may make. One of those decisions could be what to do for another Designated Player.
MLS is expected to add a fourth Designated Player slot for the 2024 season. After the immediate success and excitement of Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami, the league looks to capitalize on that and bring more notable, international players to the States.
Many teams will willingly spend the money to do so. It’s not certain that the Rapids will. What the club decides to do with Navarro will be very telling. It will all depend on Rafael’s play before the expiration of the loan. On paper, Navarro’s performance was not stellar, but that can be said for a lot of the players. We will have to see how everything looks under new Head Coach Chris Armas.
2024 League Schedule
The time to make other roster decisions will come very soon. Starting on December 1st, the 2024 portion of the MLS offseason officially begins. That schedule is below:
• December 1, 2023 – Clubs must submit all triggered contract extensions
• December 9, 2023 – MLS Draft combine
• December 11, 2023 – Trade window opens
• December 12, 2023 – Waiver process begins
• December 13, 2023 – Free agency opens
• December 19, 2023 – 2024 MLS Super Draft
In the 2024 MLS Super Draft, the club own the second (obtained naturally) and fourth (obtained via trade with the LA Galaxy) picks. Whether Colorado will use those draft picks on eligible players or use them as capital to obtain depth and established players remains to be seen. They have options though.
Team NBS will be here all offseason to cover Rapids and major MLS news before the 2024 season kicks off. We’ll be in the building, as well, on Thursday when the Colorado Rapids introduce new Head Coach Chris Armas. In the meantime, catch up on all the happenings of the 2023 Rapids season on the Team NBS Media website.
