{"id":31997,"date":"2021-03-07T15:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-03-07T20:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/?p=31997"},"modified":"2021-03-06T23:04:16","modified_gmt":"2021-03-07T04:04:16","slug":"colorado-rapids-emphasize-homegrown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2021\/03\/07\/colorado-rapids-emphasize-homegrown\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Rapids Emphasize Homegrown Signings Over Designated Players"},"content":{"rendered":"

EDITORIAL<\/strong> – Rather than any big names or splashy Designated Player signings, recent moves show there was a decision by the Colorado Rapids to emphasize Homegrown signings this offseason. Colorado has doubled down on the approach that has seen young USMNT players such as Sam Vines and Cole Bassett<\/a> become key figures in the Rapids’ first team, recently signing four new players to Homegrown contracts for the 2021 season.<\/p>\n

Rapids Emphasize Homegrown Signings To Fill Roster<\/h2>\n

The “why” to signing Homegrowns is obvious: Young players with high potential at a bargain price. Such a strategy is essential to a team like the Rapids, who rarely spend big on designated players.<\/p>\n

Targeting Homegrown players is nothing new for the Rapids. Neither is targeting talented young players developed by other MLS academies: Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Jonathan Lewis (Chicago Fire), Auston Trusty (Philadelphia Union), and Keegan Rosenberry (Philadelphia Union) all came from other teams\u2019 development academies.<\/p>\n

The Rapids\u2019 own academy already contributed heavily to the roster prior to the four new signings. This includes such prospects as Cole Bassett, Sam Vines, Sebastian Anderson, Kortne Ford, and Abraham Rodriguez. Sam Vines has recently signed a four year extension<\/a> with the Rapids.<\/p>\n

The new signings bring the Rapids\u2019 average age on the squad down to 24.6 years old according to @RapidsJason<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rapids’ New Signings At A Glance<\/h3>\n

#77 Darren Yapi \u2013 Rapids Academy<\/h4>\n

Deal:<\/strong> Rapids sign Yapi to a five-year Homegrown contract. Yapi becomes the youngest player in Rapids history at 16 years and 104 days<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Description:<\/strong> Forward. 6\u20191\u201d, 175 lbs, 16 years old. Yapi made his professional debut on August 1, 2020, with Colorado Springs Switchbacks. He also scored 64 goals in 95 appearances<\/a> for the Rapids Academy.<\/p>\n

#34 Michael Edwards \u2013 VFL Wolfsburg<\/h4>\n

Deal:<\/strong> Rapids send $75,000 in 2021 General Allocation Money (GAM) to D.C. United to acquire Edwards\u2019 Homegrown rights.<\/p>\n

Description:<\/strong> Defender. 6\u20193\u201d, 176 lbs, 20 years old. A product of D.C. United\u2019s academy, Edwards joined Wolfsburg\u2019s U-19 team in 2018 before quickly being promoted<\/a> to Wolfsburg II in the German fourth tier.<\/p>\n

#37 Dantouma \u201cYaya\u201d Toure – NYRB<\/h4>\n

Deal:<\/strong> Rapids send $50,000 in GAM to N.Y. Red Bulls and acquired Toure\u2019s Homegrown rights.<\/p>\n

Description:<\/strong> Forward. 5\u20198\u201d, 148 lbs, 16 years old. Toure scored three goals and tallied three assists<\/a> in 13 appearances with New York Red Bulls II in the USL Championship.<\/p>\n

#30 Oliver Larraz \u2013 Rapids Academy<\/h4>\n

Deal:<\/strong> Rapids sign Larraz to a two-year Homegrown contract. Larraz became the thirteenth Rapids Academy player<\/a> to sign a contract with the Rapids.<\/p>\n

Description:<\/strong> Midfielder. 5\u201910\u201d, 140 lbs, 19 years old. Larraz has also spent time with German club Duisburg and Barcelona\u2019s residency academy<\/a> in Arizona.<\/p>\n

Remaining Numbers An Indication Of Signings To Come?<\/h3>\n

No. 8 and 9 have notably been left absent, giving hope that this isn\u2019t the end of the new signings for the Rapids.<\/p>\n

Is it possible that the Rapids will fill that No. 9 with a Designated Player? Yes.<\/p>\n

Is it probable? No.<\/p>\n

The Rapids have rarely had more than one DP. One of the few years they did, in 2016, they finished second in the league. It does not take a statistician to see that DPs make a massive difference, the eye test will do.<\/p>\n

The Rapids\u2019 emphasis on Homegrown players got them to playoffs last season. Perhaps in the long term the new young signings will provide one of the missing pieces to transform the Rapids from an occasional playoff contender to a championship team.<\/p>\n

In the short term, high profile designated players like Carlos Vela, Alan Pulido, and Josef Martinez will continue to dominate MLS.<\/p>\n

Last Word:<\/h3>\n

As pointed out by @soccer_rabbi<\/a>, with 31 players currently listed for the Rapids and 30 available spots on the team, it\u2019s almost a certainty that some of the new signings will be loaned out to the Rapids\u2019 USL affiliate Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC.<\/p>\n

Who will make the cut with the first team and who will be loaned down south will likely depend on the players\u2019 performance in the upcoming pre-season games.<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>