Sporting KC trades international spot, yet perhaps not done adding players

In an unanticipated move, Sporting Kansas City added $100,000 to their pool of General Allocation Money on Tuesday in exchange for sending an International Roster spot to Colorado Rapids for the 2018 season.

In his recent article on the TAM and GAM value of last season’s Dom Dwyer trade, The Blue Testament scribe Chad Smith revealed “GAM can be used on basically anything [within a team’s player salary budget], essentially buying down whomever on the roster you need to comply with the ‘salary budget.’”

Yet the most intriguing aspect of the trade may be that Sporting Kansas City now has seven international roster spots for the season (according to the team’s press release) and all seven of them are filled – D Emiliano Amor, MF Yohan Croizet, MF Felipe Gutierrez, MF/B Cristian Lobato, M James Musa, F Johnny Russell, and F Daniel Salloi. Does that mean Sporting KC will not be signing any more international players this season (particularly the promised, long-sought after, goal-scoring #9)? Manager Peter Vermes’ response was surprising.

“That’s not necessarily true,” said Vermes from training camp in Arizona. “We still have a spot at this moment. And we probably have Daniel Salloi getting his green card soon as well.”

“We have a pretty good idea of what our situation is regarding international spots…, so it made a lot of sense for us to take advantage of that now where we could get some cash that helps us with some other things we’re still trying to do,” Vermes elaborated. “It’s smart business at this time.”

Sporting has added four international players since losing at Houston in the first round of the playoffs last October. More could still be on the way.

International Scottish Winger Johnny Russell will join the side in Arizona Wednesday evening, the same night Sporting Kansas City takes on New York Red Bulls at 6pm Central time in Sporting’s fourth preseason game, but the first in the Mobile Mini Sun Cup in Tucson and Scottsdale.