James as we all remember was apart of the Dwayne De Rosario deal back in January with Toronto FC. If this deal does go through it will really look like Houston got nothing in return for giving up DeRo.

DC is bulking up their lineup as much as possible here with a couple players on trail and a couple more moves expected to be on the way. With 17 games left on their schedule (league play, USOC final and CCL group stage games) DC needs as much defensive help as possible here.

In a way for Houston it does seem like they are giving up on the struggling James who really never made a dent in the lineup like some may have hoped he would. My guess Houston will probably be getting a decent enough pick out of this deal to try and deal it away in another trade with someone else. With their schedule being nearly as tight as DC’s I would expect Houston to be making a couple moves as well here to bulk up.

Edit: Houston gets a third round pick in the 2012 SuperDraft. From that it looks as though Houston will be trading for San Jose defender (and former Dynamo) Ryan Cochrane. Once I get final word I will let you all know.

With De Rosario going home, what else does it mean for the Reds? (Getty Images)

Not only has Toronto FC sold out their season tickets for 2009, they finally get the chance to showcase their home boy Dwayne De Rosario.

I’ve said many times that I thought Toronto should and would make this deal happen. Today they finally pulled the trigger on the move.

While it looks good on paper it means a few other things will probably go down as well.

We all know that the club is still looking to sign a designated player for the upcoming season. That player will more than likely be a striker.

That probably means Carlos Ruiz’s time in Toronto is looking to be over really quickly. Mainly I just can’t see the club keep Ruiz, DeRo, and a DP contract on the books for next year.

What to do with Carlos Ruiz is always a question. Some have said he is going home to Guatemala in some kind of transfer this winter. Others have said he will figure a way to stick it out in Toronto. And then there are those that have said he will get trade, again, to some unknown MLS club.

With a guy like De Rosario in the mix does Toronto even need Ruiz? I think the answer is no. Even more so if that DP talk ends up working out for them this winter.

But maybe the question now is, do they even need a DP now that they go DeRo? That one I will wait and answer later.

Then you look at the roster some more and wonder how well the DeRo – Amado Guevara combo will work out in Toronto. I have to say that is one combo I want to see for a game or two. How John Carver sets that one up I don’t know, I would imagine similar to how things in Houston were for DeRo, be an attacking-midfielder with Guevara set below him in the middle. Who knows.

I have a feeling another trade is in the works here for a player leaving Toronto. I don’t know who but I just have a feeling the dealing is only starting here in Toronto.

Let’s hear your thoughts on this deal. What does it mean for Toronto here? Keep Ruiz or not? And will they go after a DP too?

Dwayne De Rosario has been traded home to Toronto.

Yup, Toronto has traded Julius James to Houston (along with some allocation money) for Dwayne De Rosario.

Eh, don’t act surprised. Its something we’ve called for a long time here. Once more details come out I will have them.

Toronto finally gets their playmaker in the middle and DeRo finally gets to go home. Houston just adds to their defense here, which kind of makes me believe that they won’t be able to resign Bobby Boswell.

I think now that we are halfway through the season we can have a better understanding of who is in this race and who is not. Some guys have floated on that bubble, while others are starting to place themselves in the true discussion for this award. A lot has to do with playing time, how their clubs are doing and what impact they are actually making on the field.

Still no true order to this list though, that will still come later on. Feel free as always to post your short list or discuss mine.

1. Sean Franklin, LA Galaxy: Still one of the favorites in most people’s minds right now. Even with the lack of actual success on the LA backline, Franklin is still making solid strides to be one of the better center backs in the league. Let’s just hope Abel Xavier’s terrible play doesn’t rub off on the rookie.
2. Kheli Dube, New England Revolution: Others will have Dube atop their lists. He is definitely up there on mine.
3. Julius James, Toronto FC: The more time this kid gets on the field the better. Come October he will be an absolute beast for this club.
4. Justin Braun, Chivas USA: I must say, I still get impressed by this kid each time I see him out there. He isn’t making loads of headlines or anything but he is still for the most part a mainstay in the Chivas lineup.
5. Andy Iro, Columbus Crew: Another guy that is starting to see a lot more time is Iro. The kid is a tower on the backline for Columbus with Chad Marshall. Another kid that come later this season will be a total beast. Hell, I think he already is.

Fringe guys for the list:

1. Danleigh Boreman, New York: I don’t know what has happened with Boreman recently but I tend to lose him out on the pitch. Then again his club has been pretty terrible in recent weeks so that may be why.
2. Chance Myers, KC Wizards: Number one pick isn’t playing like one anymore. He may not even be the best rookie on his club at the moment.
3. Jonathan Leathers, KC Wizards: Who is the better rookie, Leathers or Myers? Right now I would honestly say Leathers.
4. Geoff Cameron, Houston Dynamo: Continues to get better with each game, and I’m not saying that because I know the kid. More PT coming up could help his cause in this award.
5. Patrick Nyarko, Chicago Fire: Not playing a whole lot now but you will begin to see a reason why people thought he would have been the number one pick in the draft come this fall. He will be torching clubs as a sub in the 70th minute.
6. Pat Phelan, New England Revolution: Toronto will be wishing they had kept Phelan in the long run. I know they needed to free up a roster spot but in the long run he will make them wish otherwise.
7. Eric Avila, FC Dallas: That perfect cross to Abe Thompson is reason why this kid will begin to make his way up the charts here.

Others that should be considered, but won’t:

• Emmanuel Ekpo, Columbus Crew: I’m pretty sure he won’t count as a rookie, if he does put him up near the top. He has seen time with other clubs in Africia, so that is why I think he won’t be considered.
• Sainey Nyassi, New England: See Ekpo.
• Kenny Mansally, New England: See Ekpo.

A few more rookies are really starting to make an impact on their clubs here as we move forward and approach that half-way line of the season (believe it or not we are only a couple weeks from that). More rookies are starting to get playing time as the US Open Cup rolls around and even more so in league play. They are either earning their spots in practice or are filling in for injured veterans. Either way, some are starting to make the most of their chances here.

Again, this is a watch list, so for now there isn’t a real order here on the players. Though before long expect the order to be one of a ranking-style, but that won’t come until later this summer I would assume. I know I said before I would need a few weeks to truly get a top five, well it looks like I need more time on that. Mainly I want more time on that.

Here we go…

1. Sean Franklin (LA) - As I’ve probably mentioned before, he’s got a real shot at winning this award this season because of how he is playing on LA’s backline. He’s been a real consistent force in the back for a club that doesn’t have consistent defense. Without him back there this club would have given up way more goals than they already have.
2. Danleigh Boreman (NY) – This Supplemental Draft pick provides loads of pace on the wings for New York. Not great a shot though, even with the two goals he scored. He has gotten better, I will admit that but he still needs work on his touch and striking. If he helps lead New York back into the playoffs, expect him to get a lot of votes.
3. Kheli Dube (NE) – Another Supplemental pick on the list. We’ve seen in recent weeks just how good this kid is becoming. All the goals he’s provided were at big moments in the game. Makes me wonder if he will be that spark that allows New England to finally get over the hump in big games.
4. Chance Myers (KC) – Number one pick has to be on the watch because he is the number one pick. Because of the way KC has played this year it is going to take a lot for Myers to get more press in this award. Right now his chances aren’t that good of winning this because of his club’s form. Though, like Boreman, should he lift his club into the playoffs he will get plenty of votes.
5. Justin Braun (Chivas USA) – Stepping in for Ante Razov and Maykel Galindo in recent weeks. I liked Braun when I saw him in week one in Dallas and thought he had the potential to be a solid rookie. There are still aspects of his game that need work but that will come in time. I’m curious to see the playing time he gets when Galindo and Razov are finally healthy here this season.
6. Julius James (Toronto) – I know this is mostly on one game where he scored but I know this kid has the real potential to be a rookie of the year candidate. He is starting to get in John Carver’s lineups more and over time we will see exactly how good this kid really is.

Some guys on the fringe of moving up into the main discussion:

1. Stephen King (Chicago) – Getting plenty of time in US Open Cup games (scored last night against Columbus) and in regular season games too. The kid can score as we all know, but a guy like Brian McBride on the way, it looks like King will play more in reserve this season.
2. Geoff Cameron (Houston) – Has played well off the bench for the Dynamo. A couple assists and a goal on the year if I am not mistaken. I only have him down here because he comes off the bench and doesn’t start. Most of the guys above him start.
3. Shea Salines (San Jose) – So raw and yet so much pace from this kid. I’ve said before the potential is there but before long it has to come out and show. Plus we don’t see him for a full 90, that will hurt his chances at this award.
4. Andy Iro (Columbus) – He may make a serious run to move up the discussion here once he starts more. Sigi Schmid has full confidence in Iro and really for good reason. He’s big, strong and has a great soccer IQ. All the things you want in a center back.

Anyone I’ve missed? Let’s hear it