WVHooligan - Soccer Blog

Christian Gomez is on the trading block yet again. (Getty Images)

Let the debate resume for another offseason. We talked about it last year as DC United was trying to figure out what to do with former MVP Christian Gomez. Now it appears that the Colorado Rapids will be doing the same this offseason.

Steve Goff is reporting the same hunch that most of us have had over the last couple months today that the Rapids will be looking to dump Gomez’s high contract this winter.

No surprise: Colorado is trying to move Christian Gomez and dump his 2009 guaranteed contract of around $400,000. Gomez barely played the final few months of the season under then-interim coach Gary Smith, who clearly doesn’t think much of the 2006 MVP. My hunch is that, if they find a suitor, the Rapids will have to continue paying a portion of his salary next year. Colorado already re-signed Pablo Mastroeni to a new deal that approaches designated player range.

Last year Gomez was rumored to be traded to this club and that club but somehow ended up in Colorado. But who would want a guy like Gomez at this point? Obviously someone who is shopping for a deal and a playmaker.

Gomez will end up in a situation that will be far better than what it was in Colorado in 2008. Let’s remember that he had a lame-duck coach in Fernando Clavijo and a club that wasn’t really built around his talents. No one stepped out as a top scorer until late in the year when he was riding the pine under Gary Smith. The Rapids could still use him but we all know that won’t be the case unless he takes a serious pay cut.

Few clubs out there would even be able to trade for a guy like Gomez. Like Goff said he figures Colorado will pick up some of his salary next year just to get rid of him. I think there are a few clubs that need a playmaker and that would probably even be willing to take on some or most of Gomez’s high contract, some would be able to make the trade interesting enough with draft picks and money.

• Chivas USA – They will more than likely lose their best playmaker in Sasha Kljestan this winter. They will have some cash left over from that possible transfer and the Brad Guzan one to sign a couple good players on offense. They could even go for his whole contract which would be a win-win for Colorado.
• Toronto FC – I kind of joke on this one as they already have a couple headaches in Amado Guevara and Carlos Ruiz. But it wouldn’t be a stretch for them to go for Gomez if they fail to sign the types of players that they want this winter.
• San Jose Earthquakes – We know they need offense and we know they could come up with the money to do this kind of a move. They do still need help in their striker department but a true playmaker like Gomez would certainly help things out with some of the young guns that they do have.
• FC Dallas – I would love to see this happen from a Dallas fan standpoint. They certainly need a guy in the middle to make things happen but would they be willing to spend the money on a guy like Gomez? The need kind of fits if you think about it.
• Kansas City Wizards – The Wizards do have the cash and enough draft picks to make things interesting. They did have Claudio Lopez making plays earlier in the year but I’d rather see someone set him up and Gomez could very well be that guy.

If I had to make a bet right now about who I think would trade for Gomez, I think Chivas is that team. But don’t sleep on a Dallas or KC to look at this deal too. Both have the picks and money to make it happen and make it work out to their advantage.

Where do you think Gomez will end up in 2009? Let’s hear it.

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