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Colorado Rapids add valuable options in Keegan Rosenberry and Diego Rubio

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Editorial (December 20, 2018) – The Colorado Rapids have been busy the last two weeks. This week alone, they’ve acquired forward Diego Rubio from Sporting KC in a trade sequence that sent Edgar Castillo to New England Revolution. They’ve also purchased Keegan Rosenberry, a fullback from the Philadelphia Union.

Colorado Rapids add valuable options in Keegan Rosenberry and Diego Rubio

Both of these acquisitions were made at reasonable market value. The Rapids did re-sign left back Castillo, but Last Word on Soccer has heard that the Revolution paid the transfer fee in order to bring Castillo back to MLS after his loan deal with Monterrey of Liga MX. Presumably, the terms of the contract were fitting for New England directly and not the Rapids.

Colorado has also been in desperate need of fullback support, especially with Castillo departing the club. Castillo was the MVP of the season for the club in 2018 and the right back position was a carousel of out-of-position players after Marlon Hairston wasn’t able to lock down the position in the early part of the season.

Given the need to give Castillo a pay raise and pay a transfer fee, his value as a 31-year-old fullback had decreased. The Rapids weren’t willing to pay for those, but he still had value to another team in the league willing to pay.

Rosenberry has been a starter at right back for Philadelphia two of the last three seasons. He provides some offensive contribution as well. At 25-years-old, he’s just about to enter his prime. He’s a proven commodity in MLS at the position in ways Hairston (and no one else on the roster for that matter) has not been.

“Diego Rubio was a key target for us heading in to the off-season, so we’re delighted to secure his signing and to bring him to Colorado,” said Rapids Executive Vice President & General Manager, Pádraig Smith. “Diego is a dangerous striker in front of goal and will provide us with a formidable attacking threat as he pairs up with Kei Kamara.”

The Rapids have now acquired two players who for sure should be in the 18 in 2019 when healthy. Rubio was extremely effective as a substitute for Sporting in 2018. With the Rapids looking like they’ll be sticking with the 4-4-2 diamond, they needed options at the second striker. Rubio and Sam Nicholson now provide that.

The Rapids got both of these players for reasonable prices. They already got Kamara for just an international roster spot. $300,000 in GarberBux as part of a transfer where you get the best player in the exchange isn’t a lot of money in MLS anymore. Especially when that player is set to become a starter for you at a position of need.

TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids – December 18, 2018 – Colorado Rapids have acquired striker Diego Rubio from Sporting Kansas City in return for recently acquired midfielder Kelyn Rowe, $100,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM) and $200,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM).

Full Name: Diego Rubio
Age: 25
Position: Striker
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 170 lbs.
Birth Date: May 5, 1993
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile
Hometown: Santiago, Chile

TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids – December 19, 2018 – Colorado Rapids have acquired defender Keegan Rosenberry from Philadelphia Union in return for $250,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and $50,000 in Targeted Allocation Money (TAM), plus $100,000 in conditional payments.

Full Name: Keegan Rosenberry
Age: 25
Position: Defender
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 164 lbs.
Birth Date: December 11, 1993
Birthplace: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Hometown: Ronks, Pennsylvania

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