COMMERCE CITY, CO (August 10, 2017) – The Colorado Rapids made a transfer deadline deal with Orlando City SC. They sent Dillon Powers to OCSC in exchange for Luis Gil and $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM).
Colorado Rapids Trade Dillon Powers For Luis Gil, Open Up Cap Space
As part of the deal, the Rapids will retain the remaining salary budget hit for Powers in 2017. Orlando City will retain the budget hit for Gil in 2017. Colorado has agreed to send $100,000 in 2018 TAM to Real Salt Lake, Gil’s first MLS club. Colorado takes Orlando’s place in the trade agreement with RSL for the Right of First Refusal.
While it has not been officially reported, one can assume that Querétaro FC had to approve this deal. Gil was on loan to Orlando from Querétaro of Liga MX. One can also assume that the Rapids assume the right to purchase Gil based on the loan deal Orland made.
Gil started his professional career with Real Salt Lake in 2010. He made 134 appearances in six seasons in Salt Lake. While long considered the bannerman of the young generation for RSL, his form fell off in the final few years. When his contract was up, he signed with Querétaro.
He struggled to get playing time and that only got worse when Liga MX instituted the new 8/10 rule. Looking for playing time and a familiar face, Gil agreed to a loan deal for the 2017 season. He joined his former RSL Head Coach, Jason Kreis in Orlando.
Gil made 17 appearances but only six starts. He has yet to record a goal or an assist in 2017.
On the other side, Powers has spent his entire professional career with the Colorado Rapids. Drafted 13th overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, he made 136 appearances for Colorado. He scored 14 goals and 26 assists. His play has falled off in recent years as have his stats. At a $300,000 salary for 2017, he’s by far the highest paid bench player on the roster. Like Gil, he was on a short leash.
Powers was in the 2013 MLS Rookie of the Year.
What It Means For Orlando City:
Orlando are getting a decent holding midfielder who needed a change of scenary. If Powers gets playing time, he can help be a shield in front of the backline. This will help a bubble team make a push to get above the red line. Again, assuming he starts.
What It Means For Colorado:
Honestly, this move is more about next year than this year. And it’s more about what they’re getting rid of than getting. Gil isn’t much different from Josh Gatt. He hasn’t been impressive with Orlando. With the way Malron Hairston is playing and Stefan Aigner getting healthy, I don’t see him playing much.
What the Rapids do get is Powers off payroll. He was essentially a bench player for $300,000 this year. Assuming they don’t retain Gil, that’s a huge chunck of change they’ll have open for the winter transfer window.
TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids – August 10, 2017 – Rapids acquire midfielder Luis Gil and $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) from Orlando City SC in exchange for midfielder Dillon Powers.
Full Name: Luis Gil
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Age: 23
Height: 5’10”
Weight: 155
Birth Date: November 14, 1993
Birthplace: Garden Grove, California
Twitter: @Luisitogil_10
