Editorial – The LA Galaxy have waived defender Dan Gargan and midfielder Ignacio Maganto. These moves came on the eve of the Galaxy’s second leg match against Santos Laguna and just days before the start of the 2016 MLS season. These moves and their timing may come as a surprise to some. What have the Galaxy lost in the departure of Gargan and Maganto? Why cut them? What does it mean for the rest of the team? What is next for these two? Let’s break it down.
LA Galaxy Waive Gargan and Maganto: What It Means
Dan Gargan:
First off, The Gargs & Gordo Show is no more, at least not in the form we know it as. What is it with MLS front offices ruining player web shows by the way? Sporting KC gets rid of Sal Zizzo, the co-host of The Benny Feilhaber Show. Then the Chicago Fire trade Quincy Amarikwa, disrupting Quincy Time, but I digress.
Gargan was an solid veteran and a team player. He played in many big games down the stretch in 2014, leading to the Galaxy’s fifth MLS Cup. The right back finally found a home and he was happy. He started 20 league games in 2015. Gargan had become an important role player and was well liked by the fans.
The one thing that is certainly confusing about the timing of these decisions is the fact that they came on the eve of second leg of the CONCACAF Champions League match against Santos. If Head Coach Bruce Arena wanted to waive the two players, fine. But why not wait till the day after the match in case you need them for that game?
That said, Gargan is 33-years-old. He was one of four right backs with Robbie Rogers switching to that position for the 2016 season. While A.J. DeLaGarza played at center back in the first leg of the CCL series against Santos, we could see the Galaxy play two tall center backs in MLS play. Leonardo and Jelle Van Damme getting regular minutes at center back puts DeLaGarza into a utility defender role. That puts Gargan third on the depth chart at his position.
Gargan became a redundant part of the roster. He’s the oldest of the three and thus the most expendable. Gargan made $125,000 last year. Back up right backs aren’t worth $125,000, let alone a third stringer. This move makes sense when looking at both the roster and the salary cap. That said, if Ashley Cole doesn’t come to the Galaxy, Rogers stays at left back. As a result, I think Gargan would still be with the team as the back up right back.
There is some other writing on the wall: Oscar Sorto’s time is coming. The LA Galaxy Academy product is 21-years-old and has been the right back in waiting for what seems like years. Sorto made 20 appearances for LA Galaxy II in 2015 and has spent some time with the United States U23 team. He could make the U.S. Olympic squad this year. Waiving Gargan gives Sorto a chance to come off the bench for the first team.
It is unlikely that Ashley Cole plays for LA beyond 2016. In theory, Rogers would return to left back. Sorto could possibly start at right back in 2017 or at least back up DeLaGarza. That needs to happen in the near future for his and the team’s sake.
Gargan is still a viable right back despite his age. He can very much make the 18 for an MLS club. Gargan may need to take a pay cut, but I would expect him to get picked up. Worst case scenario, he signs with an NASL or USL squad and becomes an impact veteran player.
Ignacio Maganto:
This one is a bit more confusing. Maganto is 24-years-old. He was a rookie last year and worked his butt off to get a contract after the Galaxy drafted him. He played in 13 games last year, starting in six. The kid showed a lot of upside. While he and the academy attacking talent probably weren’t getting much playing time this year, he could at least have spent the year with Los Dos. I thought he earned that with his performances in 2015.
Maganto getting waived probably shows that he was behind Raul Mendiola, Bradford Jamieson IV, etc on the depth chart. This new Galaxy squad is older but has lots of depth. Not many of the young players were going to make it in the 18 this year. Several of them were going to be loaned down to Los Dos for awhile (possibly the whole year). Maganto getting waived means he was behind the other loan candidates. He might not have even been starting for Los Dos this year. If that’s the case, I can understand waiving him.
Maganto still has talent. He’s still only a second-year professional. With only days left in the preseason, I’m not sure he’ll get picked up by an MLS team. I’d expect him to be playing in USL this season one way or another. The kid has too much upside for someone to not take a chance on him.
