The Trialist Revealed

Today was supposed to be MLS Cut Day - the day when we found out if longtime Sounders Zach Scott and/or Taylor Graham were released from the team. Well we didn't find out all the roster moves, but we did learn that Danny Earls, acquired along with Julien Baudet for Pete Vagenas, and Ricardo Martinez are no longer with the team. We then learned who the unnamed trialist is: Mauro Rosales, a 30-year old former Argentine international most recently of River Plate. Now many fans had a problem with the team not releasing his name earlier, but the fact remains that in MLS, you need to put discovery claims in on players that they might want to sign. The front office clearly did not want to jeopardize their chance at getting the discovery claim on him. Just because you are a season ticket holder doesn't mean you need to know everything the front office is doing. Let them do their job, stop complaining about trivial things (like no stream of the preseason game...I get you want to see it, but a running diary was way more than what other teams provide).

I kind of thought all along that he wasn't going to be a rookie. I mean, why would any other MLS team be that interested in a player that wasn't eligible for the draft? With that being said, I am pleasantly surprised. In the past he has been a quality player (started the 2004 Olympics Final), but recently failed a physical in Mexico, so we will see what he can bring to the table. If he does make the team we will have a huge logjam at Midfielder which won't be a bad thing - competition can only make everyone better.


Two other Sounders notes: rumors have Manchester United visiting Qwest in July 20 in what is the only team not named Barcelona who could meet the expectations of fans. I know we won't see all the big names, but it doesn't matter: Manchester United is Manchester United. You have to go watch. The other note was the email I received tonight alerting me to the fact that I get my season tickets on Friday. Combined with the pre-season game against Vancouver this weekend, I am three days since the start of the season...and I couldn't be anymore excited.