Whitecaps ditch Kamara, acquire new midfielder from Seattle

With a new manager at the helm of a team with a self-admitted culture problem, this offseason promised to be one that brought a significant amount of change to the Vancouver Whitecaps.

So far, it hasn’t disappointed.

Head coach Marc Dos Santos made four deals during Sunday’s four-hour MLS trade window and announced a fifth on Monday.

The Whitecaps have acquired 28-year-old central midfielder Andy Rose from the Seattle Sounders in exchange for $50,000 of General Allocation Money (GAM). Rose has agreed to an MLS contract through 2020, with a club option for 2021.

“Thinking about the culture, the team, and the spirit we want to create, Andy is a great team guy who is going to show up every day,” said Dos Santos in a media release. “He has experience in the league and abroad and he can play any of the midfield positions. You need players like Andy on your roster.”

A native of Australia, Rose also lived in England and Chicago during his childhood. Rose played the past three seasons in the United Kingdom, most recently with Scottish Premiership side Motherwell FC where the defensive midfielder scored two goals in 53 appearances across all competitions. He also scored five goals in 40 appearances with English Football League One club Coventry City FC.

Rose played with Seattle from 2012 to 2015, recording 10 goals and seven assists in 106 appearances across all competitions.

Kamara not coming back

After scoring a team-leading 14 goals in his first season in Vancouver, the Whitecaps have confirmed that striker Kei Kamara won’t be back.

The 34-year-old was out of contract and has opted into Friday’s MLS re-entry draft.

“Kei was an important part of the team last year and we’re thankful for his time at the club,” said Dos Santos. “We evaluated what we want in this position for next season, while also keeping in mind the medium and long-term. We are looking for characteristics that are very specific as a whole.

“We wish Kei all the best.”

Expansion draft

The Whitecaps also acquired goalkeepers Maxime Crépeau and Zac MacMath, as well as left back/winger Victor “PC” Giro during the trade window. Teams will be able to sign and trade players after the conclusion of Tuesday’s MLS Expansion Draft, as the league welcomes FC Cincinnati as its 24th team.

Cincinnati can select one player from up to five teams, excluding clubs that lost a player to LAFC last year: Columbus Crew SC, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC, Sporting Kansas City, and Toronto FC.

The Whitecaps protected 11 players, including Cristian Techera, whose rights were maintained after extending a bona fide offer:

1. Anthony Blondell (FW)
2. Brett Levis (LB)
3. Victor ‘PC’ Giro (LB)
4. Doneil Henry (CB)
5. Erik Hurtado (FW)
6. Zac MacMath (GK)
7. Felipe Martins (CM)
8. Jake Nerwinski (RB)
9. Yordy Reyna (AM)
10. Cristian Techera (W)*
11. Kendall Waston (CB)

Eight other players were automatically protected:

1. Theo Bair (FW) – Homegrown, 2019 signing
2. Michael Baldisimo (CM) – Homegrown
3. Simon Colyn (AM) – Homegrown
4. Maxime Crépeau (GK) – Homegrown
5. Sean Melvin (GK) – Homegrown
6. David Norman Jr. (CM) – Homegrown
7. Andy Rose (CM) – 2019 signing
8. Russell Teibert (CM) – Homegrown

That left 14 unprotected players, most of whom didn’t have their options exercised or were out of contract:

1. Jose Aja (CB)
2. Myer Bevan (FW)
3. Marcel de Jong (LB)
4. Roberto Dominguez (CB)
5. Marvin Emnes (W)
6. Sean Franklin (RB)
7. Aly Ghazal (CM)
8. Efraín Juárez (CM)
9. Kei Kamara (FW)
10. Stefan Marinovic (GK)
11. Aaron Maund (CB)
12. Jordon Mutch (CM)
13. Brian Rowe (GK)
14. Brek Shea (W)

Kamara not coming back

Expansion draft

See also