MLS DC has suspended FC Dallas midfielder Brek Shea for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount for deliberately kicking the ball at an assistant referee in the 24th minute of the game against Columbus Crew on May 12.

Yeah, three games. No card was given to Shea at the time which makes this one very intriguing. Injuries are bad for FC Dallas right now but I’d say the suspensions are starting to be the bigger issue there.

That wasn’t the only suspension today. The Disciplinary Committee also suspended Portland Timbers defender Mamadou Danso one game and fined him an undisclosed amount for striking Houston Dynamo forward Calen Carr across the head during the 82nd minute of the game on May 15

Portland Timbers at Houston Dynamo: John Spencer makes a return to Houston to see their new digs. The Timbers have been struggling for weeks while the Dynamo I think are slowly turning a corner now that they are getting some home games. I’d expect a tight one but Houston seems primed to make it two in-a-row at BBVA Compass Stadium. Maybe tonight is the night Brian Ching makes adds his name to the scoresheet there.

WVH Prediction: Houston 1, Portland 0

Aston Villa of the EPL announced their summer tour including stops in Portland, Chicago and Philadelphia. Pretty cool.

Another EPL side, Chelsea, also will be coming over to the States when they take on Seattle.

Gotta love these cash-grabs…I mean friendlies. I’d love at some point to see a MLS side host two European teams instead of playing one. I guess that will be what the World Football Classic is for, that is if it makes it’s return this summer for us.

Ryan Johnson could have a big season ahead with Toronto FC. (Getty Images)

Each season in Major League Soccer there are a number of players that seemingly come out of nowhere to enjoy a big season. A couple years ago it was Chris Wondolowski to last season with Dominic Oduro finally finding his way in the Windy City with the Fire.

Obviously it is always hard to tell who will breakout like Wondo and Oduro. Some guys have shown talent before like Oduro but haven’t been in the right set up for their skill sets to show it. Others are just waiting for their time really to get solid minutes and show the league what only few have been able to see in training and in reserve league games.

So who will it be this year? Below are a couple guys that could have big seasons for their respective clubs if the chips fall in the right way for them.

Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew) – With names like Robbie Rodgers and Emmanuel Ekpo gone, the midfield for the Crew will look drastically different in 2012. The only thing that won’t change is Duka. I’d expect the 22-year old to come into his own this season and contribute in a big way to get the Crew in the playoffs once again.

Andrew Wiedeman (FC Dallas) – A bit of a hometown pick for me but I think this one could be a good one. Wiedeman has had a strong preseason thus far and is putting himself in the discussion to compete for some serious playing time this season. With guys like David Ferreira returning from injury and newcomers like Blas Perez snatching goals, look for Wiedeman to be that spark for Dallas that was missing in 2011.

Justin Braun (Montreal Impact) – I’ve honestly been waiting for a couple years now for Braun to really burst out on the scene. He has shown moments over the last couple years with Chivas USA that he can be dangerous. I think a new location and coach could really help him out though this year. He’s certainly a player to watch out for.

Bright Dike (Portland Timbers) – He’s finally healthy and if he can get solid minutes this season I think he could really be a difference maker for the Timbers. A lot of attention will be placed on newcomer Kris Boyd and that should free a player like Dike up to bag a few goals this season.

Sammy Ochoa (Seattle Sounders)  - Even with Fredy Montero and now Eddie Johnson, I see Ochoa as a breakout guy. This will be his first full season with the club and now that Mike Fucito is gone (sorry Sounders fans, I know you’re still mourning that one), Ochoa should be able to sneak in and gain plenty of solid minutes this year.

Ryan Johnson (Toronto FC) – Here is another guy that has shown some glimpses in the past. I think a full season with TFC will certainly help push him out even more. With the spotlight being on Danny Koevermans this season, look for Johnson (and Joao Plata for that matter) to get plenty of quality chances on goal. The potential has been there for years folks.

Obviously this kind of news will impact it. The Portland Timbers announced on Friday that forward José Adolfo Valencia will undergo surgery to repair damaged cartilage in his left knee. Valencia is expected to miss six to 12 months.

Valencia was a Designated Player brought in this winter and will now go on the Timber’s injured reserve list for the year. A new agreement was put in place today between Portland and Valencia’s club Santa Fe. The new loan agreement terms do not require him to count as a Young Designated Player this season nor will he count as one of the team’s international players.

Valencia, who was originally acquired from Independiente Santa Fe on Dec. 15, will conduct his rehabilitation with the team in Portland.

Tough break for Portland here and for Valencia for that matter. There had been some chatter about whether or not he was going to be healthy enough to play this season. Obviously this news trumps that a good bit as he definitely will not be.

Portland hasn’t indicated whether or not they will go out and try to get another DP to replace Valencia this season. My bet is they will not. At least for them he will not count against the salary cap so they could at least try to get someone.

Portland and Vancouver have done well in preparing for their sophomore seasons. (Getty Images)

Yesterday I took a look at the 10 clubs from the Eastern Conference in how they’ve done so far this winter. Naturally right after the post was put up one of those clubs went out and signed a DP.

Today, we’ll look at the nine clubs from the Western Conference to see how they’ve been doing so far this winter.

Obviously all MLS sides will continue to make moves between now and the end of the MLS transfer window in April but this is merely a discussion and grade for what they’ve done so far. I’ll go back before the end of that window to re-grade these clubs. The transaction page at MLSSoccer.com was where the majority of the info seen on this post came from.

(Side note: I’m not including any Supplemental Draft picks in with any of the teams. Some players have already been let go by their clubs while some are still trying to make the teams. Once they have definitely signed we’ll discuss it more)

Chivas USA

Players In:

M Ryan Smith (11/21: trade from Sporting KC); D James Riley (11/23: from Seattle, via trade from Montreal); M Oswaldo Minda (12/21: SD Quito); M Miller Bolaños (1/11: LDU Quito); F Casey Townsend (1/12: SuperDraft); G Tim Melia (1/17: free); D John Valencia (1/24: Atlético Junior); M Marvin Iraheta (1/24: Cosmos Academy)

Players Out: F Justin Braun (11/23: trade to Montreal); M Gerson Mayen (11/23: trade to Montreal); D Zarek Valentin (11/23: expansion draft); MPaulo Nagamura (11/29: trade to Sporting KC); D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy); F Chukwudi Chujindu (12/12: option declined); M Simon Elliott (12/12: out of contract); G Zach Thornton (12/12: option declined); D Mariano Trujillo (12/12: option declined); D Michael Umaña (1/2: free/Comunicaciones); F Marcos Mondaini (1/4: loan option declined); G Sergio Arias (1/4: loan option declined); F Víctor Estupiñán (1/4: option declined)

What is still needed: A big time goal scorer.

Thoughts: This continues to be one of the toughest clubs to figure out. They’ve lost a good deal of talent in guys like Justin Braun and Zarek Valentin. Yet they have brought in some intriguing additions in the form of Ryan Smith, Miller Bolanos and John Valencia. If Smith can return to the level of play we saw out of him in Kansas City, then this club has the potential to be a lot more interesting in 2012.

Grade: C

Colorado Rapids

Players In: D Hunter Freeman (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Houston); M Tony Cascio (1/12: SuperDraft); M Jaime Castrillón (1/25: free/Independiente Medellín)

Players Out: M Sanna Nyassi (11/23: expansion draft); D Mike Holody (11/30: option declined); DDanny Earls (11/30: option declined); D Miguel Comminges (11/30: option declined)

What is still needed: Depth in the midfield and up top.

Thoughts: Losing Nyassi is a bigger deal than some still make it out to be. He was a solid player for them and Montreal will love having a player that can do what he does. On the flip side I do like their additions, even if it is really only a couple of them. Freeman will add some quality to the defense while Castrillon will be called to do a lot in the midfield. I think if Oscar Pareja can make a couple more moves to fit his system, then this club will be fine.

Grade: C

FC Dallas

Players In: F Blas Pérez (1/3: free/Indios de Ciudad Juárez); D Hernán Pertúz (1/3: free/Independiente Medellín); D Matt Hedges(1/12: SuperDraft); D Carlos Rodríguez (1/20: Tauro FC)

Players Out: D Edson Edward (11/23: waived); DJeremy Hall (11/29: trade to Toronto); F Maykel Galindo (12/12: option declined); F Maicon Santos (12/12: option declined); M Marvin Chávez (12/16: trade to San Jose); M Jackson(1/18: loan to Cruzeiro)

What is still needed: A starting right-winger, depth up top

Thoughts: Some folks aren’t too high on what Dallas has done this winter but really they’ve put together a solid winter so far. Perez, Pertuz and Rodriguez will all contribute big minutes this season, as will rookie Hedges. Schellas Hyndman trimmed the fat from the poor moves made last year in the form of Hall, Galindo and Santos but also made some risky moves by trading Chavez and loaning Jackson. Fans were too happy about those last two but they should be happy with the fact that the salary cap space is there for them to make a couple solid moves this season.

Grade: B

LA Galaxy

Players In: D Andrew Boyens (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Chivas USA); D Chris Leitch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/San Jose); F Pat Noonan (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/Seattle); M Marcelo Sarvas(12/13: free/Alajuelense); M Jose Villarreal(12/22: Home Grown); G Nick Noble (12/22: free/Ljungskile SK); D Tommy Meyer (1/12: SuperDraft); M Kenney Walker (1/12: SuperDraft); F Edson Buddle (2/1: free); M Kyle Nakazawa (2/1: trade from Philadelphia)

Players Out: D Gregg Berhalter (12/9: retired);G Donovan Ricketts (11/28: trade to Montreal); M Juninho (1/4: loan expired); G Jon Conway(1/10: retired); M/F Miguel López (1/10: loan expired); M Jovan Kirovski (1/23: retired); DDasan Robinson (1/27: retired); D Chris Leitch(1/31: retired); F Yuri Gorentzvaig (2/1: waived)

What is still needed: Center back depth and defensive midfield help

Thoughts: Losing Juninho is huge, losing Omar Gonzalez to injury is just as big. Both are the two biggest losses to this club but on the flip side they have done very well at addressing depth and shredding some fat. Having Buddle come back is huge but don’t sleep on that Nakazawa trade either, that was a nice quiet move by Bruce Arena that could end up being a big deal down the road.

Grade: B-

Portland Timbers

Players In: F José Adolfo Valencia (12/14: Independiente Santa Fe/Colombia); F Brent Richards (1/4: Home Grown); D Andrew Jean-Baptiste (1/12: SuperDraft); M Brendan King(1/12: SuperDraft); D Hanyer Mosquera (1/17: free); F Kris Boyd (1/30: free); M Charles Renken (1/31: waiver wire)

Players Out: D Kevin Goldthwaite (11/29: retired); F/M Ryan Pore (12/1; option declined); G Adin Brown (12/12: option declined); M Rodrigo López (12/12: option declined); M Peter Lowry (12/12: option declined); F Brian Umony(12/12: option declined); F Kenny Cooper (1/12: trade to New York)

What is still needed: Depth in the defense, additional help on the wings

Thoughts: The last two moves by the Timbers (Boyd, Renken) could end up being the best moves this winter by any club. Boyd is a natural goal scorer and if he can get to 10-15 goals this season, it will be a great addition by the Timbers. As for Renken, if he can get healthy it is a very good pickup for a player that had so much promise early on in his young career. The other DP signed this winter by the Timbers is still a toss up but if Valencia can get healthy and work out, then the Timbers have all the makings of being special in year two.

Grade: B+

Real Salt Lake

Players In: M Enzo Martinez (1/12: SuperDraft); D Diogo de Almeida (1/12: SuperDraft); M Sebastián Velásquez (1/12: SuperDraft);  D Leone Cruz (1/17: trade rights from Seattle)

Players Out: G Tim Melia (11/23: waived); M Collen Warner (11/23: expansion draft); D Robbie Russell (11/29: trade to D.C.); M Jean Alexandre (12/1: trade to San Jose); M Arturo Alvarez (12/5: Re-Entry Stage 1/Chivas USA); MAndy Williams (12/5: retired); D Nelson González (12/12: option declined); D Rauwshan McKenzie (12/12: option declined); M Blake Wagner (12/12: option declined); M Andy Rose(1/17: trade to Seattle)

What is still needed: Depth all over, particularly in the midfield and up top

Thoughts: It seems like they have lose more than they have gained but that is the price you pay when you are one of the deepest teams in MLS. Russell and Warner will end up being the toughest losses on the field. Williams will be the toughest loss in the locker room though. But they did get some youth in the draft and Martinez should be a steal for them, as he’ll get plenty of playing time in his rookie season.

Grade: C

San Jose Earthquakes

Players In: M Shea Salinas (11/30: trade from Vancouver); M Jean Alexandre (12/1: trade from RSL); M Marvin Chávez (12/16: trade from FC Dallas); D Víctor Bernárdez (12/21: free/Anderlecht); F Sam Garza (1/12: SuperDraft); M Jacob Hustedt (1/12: SuperDraft); G Chris Blais (1/12: SuperDraft);  F Sercan Güvenisik (1/26: Preußen Münster); M Tressor Moreno (2/2: free)

Players Out: D Bobby Burling (11/23: expansion draft); M Matt Luzunaris (12/1: waived); M/D Bobby Convey (12/2: trade to Sporting KC); D Chris Leitch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy); MAndré Luiz (12/12: option declined); M Jacob Peterson (12/12: option declined); F Scott Sealy (12/12: option declined); G Andrew Weber (12/12: option declined)

What is still needed: Defensive help

Thoughts: A busy offseason for Frank Yallop but not a terrible one. A lot of iffy moves in the draft and in trades that could pan out and be better than I am thinking. If Moreno ends up being the #10 that the Quakes have been looking for then we could be looking at a sleeper team this season. Still a lot of ifs with that defense that worries me. I do think their additions on the wings will help Chris Wondolowski out in a big way. I think the grade will end up being higher, especially if they can work out a deal with Simon Dawkins to return.

Grade: C+

Seattle Sounders FC

Players In: G Michael Gspurning (12/7: free/Skoda Xanthi); D Marc Burch (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/D.C. United); D Adam Johansson (12/29: free/Göteborg); M Christian Sivebaek (1/11: free/Midtjylland); D Andrew Duran (1/12: SuperDraft); F Babayele Sodade (1/12: SuperDraft); M Andy Rose (1/17: trade from Real Salt Lake); FCordell Cato (1/18: free/Defence Force FC);

Players Out: G Kasey Keller (11/2: retired); D James Riley (11/23: to Chivas USA, via expansion draft); D Tyson Wahl (11/23: trade to Montreal); GK Terry Boss (12/2: retired); D Taylor Graham(12/2, retired); F Nate Jaqua (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/New England); F Pat Noonan (12/12: Re-Entry Stage 2/LA Galaxy); M Erik Friberg(12/12: transfer/Malmö)

What is still needed: Defensive depth, a healthy Steve Zakuani

Thoughts: It looked like this club was going to take a serious hit back at the end of 2011 but they have quietly and diligently made some good moves to help their cause out for what will be a busy 2012. I like the additions of Johansson, Siveback and Cato. And re-signing Mauro Rosales was absolutely huge. Still the biggest loss will certainly be Kasey Keller and his leadership. If Gspurning can be half of what Keller was to this club they will be fine.

Grade: B

Vancouver Whitecaps

Players In: M Bryce Alderson (11/17: Home Grown), D Lee Young-Pyo (12/7: free); M/F Lee Nguyen(12/15: weighted lottery); M Matt Watson(12/16: free/Carolina); D Martín Bonjour (1/6: free: Rampla Juniors); F Darren Mattocks(1/12: SuperDraft); D Chris Estridge (1/12: SuperDraft); G Brad Knighton (1/17: Carolina);  M Jun Marques Davidson (1/19: free); F Sébastien Le Toux (1/30: trade from Philadelphia)

Players Out: D Jeb Brovsky (11/23: expansion draft); D Bilal Duckett (11/23: waived); M Nizar Khalfan (11/23: waived); M Alexandre Morfaw(11/23: waived); M Shea Salinas (11/30: trade to San Jose); D Greg Janicki (11/30: option declined); M Pete Vagenas (11/30: option declined); D Jonathan Leathers (11/30: option declined); G Jay Nolly (12/5: trade to Chicago); D Geinier García (1/17: trade to Montreal); FMustapha Jarju (1/21: contract terminated); MPhilippe Davies (1/21: option declined)

What is still needed: Defensive depth

Thoughts: Martin Rennie has brought in a fair amount of talent from his Carolina roster and will likely continue to do so. But you have to really like where this club is going offensively with Le Toux and the re-signing of Camilio. If Young-Pyo can turn into the game-changer in the back for the Caps, this could easily be a playoff team in 2012. There will certainly be some growing pains with this club, giving all the changes but you have to really like where they are going here.

Grade A-

Charles Renken is now a Timbers. (John Dorton/ISI)

It has been one of those days. First the Sebastien Le Toux trade now these two stories.

First up is former US youth phenom Charles Renken has been signed by the Portland Timbers. The Timbers got the youth star off of waivers somehow. Yes waivers. So far me and probably a half dozen other writers have been asking the how’s and why’s on Twitter but so far we got nothing as to how this was done.

My best guess – and stay with me here as it is a guess – is that someone had a claim to Renken and then waived that claim. Portland noticed said club had waived him and they decided to sign him. Seems simple and complex enough to work with how MLS operates. 

EDIT: According to Ives, all 18 other clubs passed on Renken, thus killing the need for a lottery or allocation draft for him. The whole waiver part is still confusing but that is where it stands. Eighteen clubs passed on Renken, one didn’t. Could be a clever gamble on the Timbers part.

Typically an American player coming to MLS for the first time does not come off waivers but through a lottery or allocation system. Renken really should have gone to a lottery like Lee Nguyen did a couple months ago.

Renken, 18, has been a member of U.S. youth national teams since 2005 and most recently participated in a camp with the U.S. U-23 National Team in Germany last fall. At the club level, he played for the U-19 team of German Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim during the 2010-11 season.

Hoffenheim apparently dropped him from their roster back in the fall without any fanfare.

Again, the kid should have not been coming in off waivers.

But I digress.

I like the move for Portland, if and only if, Renken is healthy again. The kid is coming off some injuries that has sort of derailed his rise to stardom. He’s had a fairly rough life as well and I really encourage you to read this bio from 2008 on him.

Still my wonder is how on earth did the Timbers make this happen. You normally see these sorts of bends to the rules for the Red Bulls and Galaxy.

Two big(ish) points of news on this Monday afternoon.

1. The Portland Timbers have signed their third DP, Scottish striker Kris Boyd. A big stinkin’ signing.

2. Faryd Mondragon has left Philadelphia to return to Colombia. Union now down to one keeper in Zac MacMath.

I’ll have more on these items tomorrow (or Wednesday). I’m hoping to do a team-by-team look at who’s done what this offseason.