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Colorado Rapids Young Core Re-Signs Through 2022

Editorial (February 20, 2019) – The Colorado Rapids have come to contract extension agreements. Kellyn Acosta, Keegan Rosenberry, and Diego Rubio have all re-signed with the club through 2022 at least. This Colorado Rapids young core is now set to be a big part of what the club hopes to build.

Colorado Rapids Young Core Re-Signs Through 2022

“We are pleased to announce contract extensions for these three key players,” said Rapids Executive Vice President & General Manager, Pádraig Smith. “We targeted these players over the past 12 months and in Kellyn, Keegan and Diego we have players who have a demonstrated track record of production in MLS and who fit our style of play perfectly. As they enter their prime we believe they will be key contributors for us in the coming years. These deals demonstrate our club’s commitment to investing in talented young players and building a strong core, and highlight the confidence that these players have in our future.”

Preliminary Contract Details:

As previously rumors, Acosta has re-signed with the club and is expected to be over the maximum budget salary. Acosta’s new contract will take effect immediately (read: for the 2019 season) and will run through 2021. There are club options in 2022 and 2023, past the expiration of the sell-on clause FC Dallas has on Acosta should he be sold.

Rosenberry arrived this off-season from Philadelphia Union with his contract expiring in 2019. His new three-year deal, with an expected pay raise, will take effect in 2020 and run through 2022. The term for Rubio’s contract are the same as Rosenberry’s. The Chilean’s deal was also set to expire this year.

What it means:

This is a good move for the club. They’ve locked down three players long term who could make up the young core for years to come. Assuming Rubio and Rosenberry are still under the max budget charge by a good amount, all of these deals are probably good value in terms of salary.

These players also play positions the club struggled with last year. Rosenberry is set to lock down the right back position. If Rubio is as effective starting as he has been as a substitute, he’ll be a great piece to the forward core.

Acosta is the most interesting of this group for a few reasons. He fell short of expectations in the USMNT January Camp. While he and Jack Price could be a great tandem in the midfield, if he wants to compete with Weston McKennie, Tyler Adams, and Will Trapp, he’s going to have to be fantastic on a competitive Rapids team.

This deal has several layers. First, Acosta was deserving of a salary bump and he got it. Second, the Rapids wanted to control this financial investment by having Acosta on the books after 2020. That way, if they decided to sell him, they wouldn’t have to split the transfer fee with FC Dallas.

If they keep him and he’s the engine in the midfield. If Acosta wants to go to Europe for a bigger challenge, more money, or better national team prospects, also great. But a lot has to happen if Acosta wants to start in Qatar for the USMNT while playing for the Rapids.

TRANSACTION: Colorado Rapids – February 20, 2019 – Colorado Rapids Soccer Club have announced a three-year contract extension for midfielder Kellyn Acosta, effective with the 2019 season, with a club option for 2022 and 2023, and three-year contract extensions, effective with the 2020 season, for both defender Keegan Rosenberry and forward Diego Rubio.

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