Thanks to Prost Amerika for this. Normally I wouldn’t go into a release of a player but since I know the guy and covered him during his college days at West Virginia University.

Seattle Sounders FC have released New Zealand striker Jarrod Smith.

Sounders FC have released forward Jarrod Smith. Smith, 25, was selected by Seattle in the MLS Expansion Draft but had been on the disabled list since March 5.

Smith underwent successful surgery last week to repair a torn right hamstring tendon. He will continue rehabilitation in Seattle with the team and his MLS rights remain with Sounders FC.

Smith spent most of June with the New Zealand National Team for the Confederations Cup and friendlies in Africa, including one in Gaborone, Botswana where he became the first MLS Sounder to play international soccer. He last saw action for Sounders FC in a U.S. Open Cup third round game at Portland on July 1. His only other appearance was in an Open Cup play-in match on April 28.

Smith played 20 games, starting six, during his rookie season with Toronto FC.

Here’s some food for thought though too. Look at this list, you see something interesting? Yeah, a whole slew of Americans returned to MLS this summer. Brian McBride, Eddie Lewis, Robbie Russel, Josh Wolff, Kasey Keller (next year with Seattle but close enough), Nate Jaqua, etc. I think its an intereting trend that we will see continue to happen here.

Anyways, back to the list. As always if you see anything that needs corrected, please comment below and I will get it taken care of as soon as possible.

Chicago Fire
Incoming:
Brian McBride via transfer from Fulham (England)
Marco Pablo Pappa via loan from Municipal (Guatemala)
Lider Marmol via transfer from Hercules CF (Spain)

Outgoing:
Chad Barrett via trade w/ Toronto for rights to B. McBride
Brian Plotkin (waived)

Draft Picks/etc:
4th round pick in 2009 SuperDraft (Johnson trade)

Chivas USA
Incoming:
Carey Talley via trade w/ Salt Lake
Roberto Nurse via transfer from Querétaro (Mexico)
Chris Pozniak via trade w/ San Jose
Zach Thornton via trade w/New York

Outgoing:
Brad Guzan via transfer to Aston Villa (England)
Dan Gargan (retired)
Chris Pozniak (waived)

Colorado Rapids
Incoming:
Preston Burpo via trade w/ San Jose
Greg Dalby via signing (previously with R. Charleroi S. C. of Belgium)
Bruno Guarda via weighted lottery
Cory Gibbs via allocation (previously w/ Charlton in England)

Outgoing:
Rafael Gomes (waived)
Dan Gargan (waived)
Kelly Gray via trade w/ San Jose
Jovan Kirovski via trade w/ San Jose
Bruno Guarda via trade w/ FC Dallas
Ciaran O’Brien via loan to Seattle Sounders (USL)

Draft Picks/etc:
2009 SuperDraft second round pick (Dallas – Guarda trade)
2009 SuperDraft third round pick (Dallas – Guarda trade)
Allocation via Dallas (Guarda Trade)

Columbus Crew:
Incoming:
Cory Elenio (unattached)
Pat Noonan via transfer from Aalesunds FK (Norway)
Brian Plotkin (previously w/ Chicago)

Outgoing:
Nico Hernandez (waived)
Guilherme So (waived)

Draft Picks/etc:
2009 1st round Supplemental pick (trade w/Dallas for international slot)

DC United:
Incoming:
Craig Thompson (unattached)
Joe Vide (previously w/ San Jose)
Ivan Guerrero via trade w/San Jose
Louis Crayton via transfer from FC Basel (Switzerland)

Outgoing:
Jose Carvallo (waived)
Jeff Curtin (retired)
Franco Niell (waived)
Dan Stratford (waived)

FC Dallas:
Incoming:
Spencer Wadsworth (unattached)
Bruno Guarda via trade w/ Colorado Rapids
Victor Sikora via transfer from NAC Breda (Netherlands)
Jamie Watson (previously w/ RSL)
Jeff Cunningham via trade w/ Toronto

Out:
Ray Burse via loan to Portland Timbers *returned from loan*
Abdus Ibrahim via trade w/Toronto
Arturo Alvarez via trade w/San Jose
Juan Toja via transfer to Steaua Bucuresti (Romania)
Ricardinho (loan ended)

Draft Picks/etc:
1st or 2nd round pick in 2010 draft (from Toronto in A. Ibrahim trade)
International Slot (trade w/Columbus)
International Slot (trade w/KC)
2009 SuperDraft first round pick (Alvarez trade w/ San Jose)
Allocation $ (Alvarez trade w/ San Jose)

Houston Dynamo:
Incoming:
Guy-Roland Kpene (previously w/ DC)
Nate Jaqua transfer from SCR Altach (Austria)
Kei Kamara via trade w/ San Jose

Outgoing:
Franco Caraccio (waived)
James Georgeff (waived)

Kansas City Wizards
Incoming:
Kevin Souter (unattached)
Nelson Pizarro (unattached)
Josh Wolff via transfer from 1860 Munich (Germany)

Outgoing:
Eloy Columbano (waived)
Scott Sealy via trade w/ San Jose
Amir Lowery (waived)
Yomby William (waived)

Draft Picks/etc:
Allocation $ (from SJ in Scott Sealy trade)
2009 4th round SuperDraft pick (trade w/Dallas for international slot)

Los Angeles Galaxy:
Incoming:
Joey Franchino via trade w/New England
Eduardo Dominguez via transfer from Huracan (Argentina)
Eddie Lewis via transfer from Derby County (England)

Out:
Abel Xavier (waived)
Bryan Jordan via loan to Portland Timbers
Carlos Ruiz via trade w/ Toronto

Draft Picks/etc:
1st and 2nd round Supplemental picks in 2009 (Ruiz trade)

New England Revolution:
Incoming:
Brandon Manzonelli (unattached)
Pat Phelan via trade w/ Toronto
Chris Tierney (unattached)
Gabriel Badilla via transfer from Saprissa (Costa Rica)

Out:
Joey Franchino via trade w/LA
Matthew Britner (waived)
Chase Hilgenbrinck (retired)
Spencer Wadsworth (waived)
Brad Knighton via loan to Portland Timbers (USA)
Argenis Fernandez via loan to LD Alejuelense (Costa Rica)

Draft Picks/etc:
1st round pick in 2009 SuperDraft (Noonan trade)
Allocation $ (Noonan trade)
Future Allocation consideration (Noonan trade)
Allocation $ (Smith trade)

New York Red Bulls:
Incoming:
Andrew Boyens (previously w/ Toronto)
Gordon Kljestan (unattached)
Diego Jimenez via transfer from UAG Tecos (Mexico)
Juan Pietravallo via transfer from Veria (Argentina)
Jorge Rojas via transfer from UA Maracaibo (Venezuela)
Gabriel Cichero via loan from Deportivo Italia (Columbia)

Outgoing:
Kevin Mesa (waived)
Ricky Schramm (waived)
Jozy Altidore via transfer to Villareal (Spain)
Claudio Reyna (retired)
Zach Thornton via trade w/Chivas USA

Draft Picks/etc:
Future Considerations (from Chivas USA in Z. Thornton trade)

Real Salt Lake:
In:
Robbie Russell via transfer from Viborg (Denmark)
Clint Mathis via trade w/ LA
Will Johnson via trade w/ Chicago (for his MLS rights)

Out:
Matias Cordoba (waived)
Carey Talley via trade w/Chivas USA
Nik Besagno via loan to Seattle Sounders (USA)
Matías Mantilla (waived)

Draft Picks/etc:
2nd round SuperDraft Pick in 2010 or 2011 (from Chivas USA in C. Talley trade)

San Jose Earthquakes:
Incoming:
Peguero Jean-Philippe via loan from Brondby IF (Denmark)
Dan Benton (unattached)
Kelly Gray via trade w/Colorado
Darren Huckerby via transfer from Norwich City (England)
Jovan Kirovski via trade w/Colorado
Francisco Lima via transfer from Brescia (Italy)
Amir Lowery (unattached)
Scott Sealy via trade w/Kansas City
Arturo Alvarez via trade w/Dallas
Mikel Arce via loan from CD Lourdes (Spain)

Outgoing:
Dan Benton (waived)
Chris Pozniak via trade w/ Chivas USA
Preston Burpo via trade w/Colorado
Greg Curry (waived)
Adam Sloustcher (waived)
Joe Vide (waived)
Ivan Guerrero via trade w/DC
Amir Lowery (waived)

Draft Picks/etc:
1st round pick in 2009 SuperDraft (from Houston in K. Kamara trade)
Allocation $ (from Houston in K. Kamara trade)

Toronto FC:
Incoming:
Laurent Robert via transfer from Derby County (England)
Rohan Ricketts via transfer from Barnsley (England)
Amado Guevara via transfer from Motagua (Honduras)
Olivier Tébily via transfer from Birmingham City (England)
Chad Barrett via trade w/Chicago
Abdus Ibrahim via trade w/Dallas
Tyler Hemming (unattached)
Johann Smith via transfer from Bolton (England)
Derek Gaudet (unattached)
Carlos Ruiz via trade w/ LA

Outgoing:
Andrea Lombardo (waived)
Pat Phelan via trade w/New England
Olivier Tebily (waived)
Jeff Cunningham via trade w/ Dallas
Maurice Edu via transfer to Glasgow Rangers (Scotland)
Laurent Robert (waived)

Draft Picks/etc:
International Slot (from NE in P. Phelan trade)
1st round pick in 2009 SuperDraft (from Chicago in B. McBride trade)
Allocation $ (from Chicago in B. McBride trade)
3rd round pick in 2009 SuperDraft (from Dallas in Cunningham trade)

Honestly, this move isn’t a total shocker to me. I thought back in the spring that Ricardinho was one of those guys that I thought wouldn’t last the whole season in Dallas. When a new coach came on board it was pretty much a matter of time for him to return back to CAP.

I liked Ricardinho but there was always that element that was missing for me out of him. I loved his craftiness but thought he disappeared too much in games or that he didn’t make the most of his chances when he was given them.

Still the partnership between CAP and Dallas works. Andre Rocha has been a big success in my mind this season for the club and I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Hoops look for another CAP player in the winter for next year. I wonder if Dallas is set to make a move to fill his roster spot or if they will just move a developmental player into the senior roster for the time being.

Robert started in 16 of 17 games scoring one goal and adding three assists.

Kinda of a surprise release to me. I’m not sure if it was a personal kind of decision on Robert’s part in that he asked for a release or if the club is just trying to change things up by getting rid of some salary to make room for someone else like Carlos Ruiz.

From all that I’ve heard from Galaxy-land is that they will be looking to swing some deals by at least Thursday of this week. They have another Primetime match this week against the Fire. The Galaxy and their new boss Bruce Arena are hoping to land Eddie Lewis before long and to do so would mean shipping Ruiz off.

What do you make of this release by Toronto? Think it is a precursor to land Ruiz?

The re-signing of Nate Jaqua earlier this week and the Dynamo’s aim to shop for at least one more forward for the second half of the MLS season made Caraccio expendable. Houston head coach Dominic Kinnear made this fairly clear today according to Bernando Fallas of the Houston Chronicle.

“We probably need some help at the forward position as we’re pushing midfielders up there, and with the acquisition of Nate… it became a numbers issue as far as players on the roster and salary cap goes,” Kinnear said. “I don’t enjoy moving players, especially when they fit in pretty well in the locker room and I enjoy them, but in this case a decision had to be made.”

“He played OK,” said Kinnear, adding that Caraccio’s performance against Chivas had little to do with the decision. “I don’t think he had a bad game.”

Caraccio, who was to make $130,500 this year, according to MLS Players Union documents, was signed to a semi-guaranteed contract, the team said, meaning his release effectively opens up salary cap space for the Dynamo.

Expectations were high when Caraccio, a former Argentina under-20 and Arsenal de Sarandi player with unquestioned potential, began the season in the starting lineup as a complement to Brian Ching.

With Jaqua’s return, Caraccio would have fallen to fifth in Kinnear’s pecking order of forwards behind Ching, Jaqua, Dwayne De Rosario and Brian Mullan.

Pretty tough because he is still very young but with high expectations come tough times if you don’t meet those expectations. Caraccio wasn’t all that popular with the Houston fans either, a lot of results I’ve read and head about him were fairly mixed.

Its surprising Houston didn’t release him earlier before contracts became guaranteed back at the end of June.

But it does appear that Caraccio won’t be unemployed too much longer either. The New York Post’s Brian Lewis is hearing that the Red Bulls are interested in Caraccio. Not too shocking to hear that with the lack of forwards that New York has right now and Juan Carlos Osorio’s desire to pick-up trash that other clubs take out (see Andrew Boyens).

What do you all make of Caraccio’s release?

Yup, the LA Galaxy has waived Portuguese defender and veteran traffic cone Abel Xavier, the Washington Post’s Steve Goff reported today.

I won’t go too much into details on this because its honestly the right move by the Galaxy. Sounds like they finally wised up and realized that a majority of those 30-some goals that have been scored on them were mostly caused by lack of quality play out of Xavier.

Sounds like more Galaxy moves are on the way as well…

What do you make of this news?

“We’ll officially announce shortly that we’ve released goalkeeper Jose Carvallo. The Peruvian joined United on January 28 of this year, but never really fought his way into the first team. He made a lone first team appearance on April 12 when the team lost to Real Salt Lake 4-0. He also made six reserve team appearances (five starts), putting together a 2-2-1 record and 1.22 goals-against-average. “

Something tells me they are going to be going after another keeper to push Zack Wells here in the coming weeks. They have a little bit of wiggle room in the cap space so my guess they may try to trade within the league for a solid backup to compete with Wells but they could also look elsewhere. Maybe former Chicago keeper Matt Pickens? Eh, eh? Maybe.