A View from Afar

What the latest Valdes transfer rumors reveal

Photo: Paul Rudderow

Carlos Valdes to Colombia — again?

The list of things that never quite go away for Philadelphia Union includes Peter Nowak jokes, debating the Doop song, the absence of a true starting left back, and the now annual discussion of where Carlos Valdes will play.

That prospective deal, first reported by Colombian journalist Omar Durán, would send Torres to Colombian side Millonarios in exchange for Panamanian international defender Roman Torres. The Union’s non-denial denial — “The technical staff is always getting offers for our top talent, and there’s always going to be interest in a player coming off a World Cup year. But Carlos is still our player.” — indicates there could be some legitimacy to the possibilityof a Valdes departure, whether to Millonarios or somewhere else.

Then again, it is the silly season, when South American soccer journalists’ reports vary in their reliability from “possibly true” to “he needs to cut down on the weed.”

International trades like this are rare, but the Union have actually done one before, when they sent Freddy Adu to Brazilian side Bahia in exchange for Kleberson.

Torres, 28, has been linked to an MLS move before. Back in 2012, the Los Angeles Galaxy expressed some interest, but a deal never came through. He has trialed with second tier clubs in England but never made a move there either. At a listed height of 6-2, he would be the tallest regular starting center back the Union have ever had. (Aaron Wheeler and Austin Berry were not regulars.)

Why part with Valdes?

But forget the specifics of the transfer rumor for a moment. Consider the idea as a whole.

Would the Union part with Valdes so soon after getting him back, and if so, why?

The benefit to such a deal for the Union is they would clear a high salary from the books. Valdes is a solid player and solid citizen, but he didn’t show the same form upon his return to the Union as he did in his prior stint. One can chalk that up to World Cup hangover — and I’m inclined to — but few (if any) of us actually watched Valdes playing regularly in Argentina, so this could actually be a consistently lower of play he’s had for some time.

Either way, the Union have been open to unloading his contract since Peter Nowak was fired. Valdes has the last remaining Union contract negotiated for a central or South American player obtained under former scouting director Diego Gutierrez’s watch, and there have always been questions about those contracts. Yes, the unusual way Valdes has bounced around on loan probably has more to do with Colombian national team coach Jose Pekerman wanting Valdes to play in South America, but the Union’s willingness to agree to those loans could also be influenced by something unusual in the contract that we don’t know about.

Further, Jim Curtin has already gone on record saying he wants Maurice Edu to return at center back, and he has praised Ethan White to the degree that it indicates Curtin might like him as a 2014 starter. (Or it was just a motivational tool to boost White’s confidence.)

Realistically speaking, MLS clubs are not generally willing to pay high salaries to two different center backs due to salary cap restrictions. If Edu returns to Philadelphia as a center back, it decreases the likelihood that Valdes will. They probably can’t keep both if they want to sign a top tier striker.

Would it be nice to keep an in-form Valdes? Sure. He was a legitimate all-star at center back prior to his departure, and he’s a popular player and model citizen.

Was he better in that first Union stint than Edu was this season at center back? Debatable. (So use the Comments section below to debate it! Hint hint.)

Off the field, Edu is probably the guy the Union want. He’s an articulate individual who remains part of the U.S. national team pool, and his presence on the club may add more stature with casual fans than Valdes would.

So we’ll see what happens.

Nobody is untouchable anymore

Either way, don’t be surprised about any player movement you hear related to the Union. Almost nobody on this team is untouchable now.

A new coach brings different views on players’ capabilities. John Hackworth would have moved Heaven and Earth to keep Amobi Okugo, for example. Curtin seems to rate Okugo a lot lower. Peter Nowak kept Jack McInerney and Okugo stapled to the bench. Hackworth made them starters. Hackworth liked Aaron Wheeler and Antoine Hoppenot, but each was on the outside looking in under Curtin.

Right now, the only players who seem untouchable are Ray Gaddis and … well, Ray Gaddis. Curtin clearly loves him as a player, and the Union just signed him to a new contract.

Then again, the Union have another good right back in Sheanon Williams. Sooner or later, one of them will depart, because they are both starting quality. Who knows? Maybe the best trade offer ends up being for Gaddis.

Even Vincent Nogueira and Cristian Maidana probably aren’t untouchable. The Union will do their best to keep them, but Nogueira could choose to leave on his own and potentially have an exit clause in his contract, for example.

So nobody is set in stone. Even Sebastien Le Toux. And Carlos Valdes.

18 Comments

  1. Considering the Unions history of trades at no time ever was a player “untouchable”Ever.
    What is debatable is if we have ever gotten real value from a player touchable or otherwise.

  2. If no one on the Union is untouchable, does that include Sakiewicz?

  3. I think Valdés will be moved and White will be a starter alongside Edu, based off Curtin’s assessment of White and the well known off field friendship between them.
    /
    This organization is a perfect example of how not to deal with young talent. It is mind blowing how they are dealing with Okugo, the whole, Curtin saying he wants to go to Europe, when a few weeks ago Okugo said he has to pick the right time to go and it may not be now, and he basically professed his love for the Union. But the union want to get rid of him anyway. Ridiculous. And if he really wants go to Europe, then secure his rights for when he comes back. Unless Okugo is holding out for the new CBA, that is only thing that makes sense for a contract not to be given just yet but still.
    /
    We need a real left back.
    /
    The next team Okugo goes to, I’m getting a jersey with his name on it from them.

    • I’m flashing back to the last time the Union front office tried to force a player to go to Europe against his wishes. That didn’t end well.

  4. I’m still convinced Valdes came back after the WC to finish out the year as a favor to the Union, with the agreement that the Union would move him this winter. If Valdes stays, he won’t be picked for the Copa.

  5. OneManWolfpack says:

    Reading between the lines, and I’m no genius by ANY STRETCH, it really seems like Valdes is gone, and they just need to work out the details. If they are just going to clear him for salary purposes that is fine with me, if that money is put directly into a top-tier striker. I can live with Edu and White as the CBs, but if that’s the case you have to resign Okugo. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why Curtain rates Okugo so low? What did he do? It seems like the FO just doesn’t want to pay him, and it is using the whole “he wants to go to Europe” thing as a cover. Again, this may have been obvious to most, but remember, I did start my comment with “I’m no genius, by ANY STRETCH.”

    • It is kind of insane to move a quality CB and still have that full compliment of keepers.

      I dunno.

    • Curtin is old school thinker. I’m telling ya. I don’t think he sees it or gets it. Decent enough defender for a few years Jim Curtin, doesn’t mean he gets it though. This will prove out over time IMO. Okugo is new school thinker. New school player.

      • OneManWolfpack says:

        And he’s letting him walk. We will regret this one.

      • What is annoying in all these is that other teams are keeping and maintaining their core players and there is always a revolving door in Philadelphia Union. The U Front Office is so inept. Okugo should actually leave to save his promising career even if the U offered him a ton of $.

  6. “Either way, the Union have been open to unloading his contract since Peter Nowak was fired. Valdes has the last remaining Union contract negotiated for a central or South American player obtained under former scouting director Diego Gutierrez’s watch, and there have always been questions about those contracts. ”

    Wait..what now? When he came back, it was announced by the oh-so-trustworthy-CEO Sakandpillage that Valdes had signed a “multi-year extension”. How does that align with your assertion they’ve been looking to dump him? Because the time to dump him was last year. For value. Who extends someone to “unload” them?
    From your site in August –
    “Question: To clarify, is there a new deal in place with Carlos?

    Nick Sakiewicz responds

    There’s a new, multi-year deal in place, so we expect for Carlos to be here. Again, these deals were really important to do becasue we want to create stability in our core,”

    • Sakandpillage.
      .
      Ruin Tomorrow.
      .
      ONLY IN PHILLY.

    • I didn’t assert they were “looking to dump him.” I said they were open to unloading him. Two very different connotations. One indicates they would take the right deal if offered. The other implies they are actively looking to get rid of him, which isn’t what I wrote. As usual, your rewrite of my words is a bit off, Scott.

  7. John O'Donnell says:

    Crazy thought but could this just be a South American Rumor? They’ve had many in the past. I remember reading that Carlos wasn’t coming here no matter what and yet he’s here.

  8. Regarding your “hint hint”, Edu was a very good CB, but yes, Valdes in his first stint with the Union was even better. I would be very sad to see Valdes go. Ethan White is pretty solid, but he ain’t no Carlos Valdes by a long shot. Also, if Okugo leaves, which is looking increasingly likely, Edu plays CDM, and we need Valdes at CB. So perhaps it is the case that one of these 3 players is going to go, and they’re exploring options (for at least two of them) to see how good a deal they can get.

  9. Can he take Williams with him?

  10. The Little Fish says:

    Edu versus Valdes? Hmmmmm. I’d pay up and keep them both. I know it’ll be costly But with our yo-yo international goaltender situation we’re going to need some stability at the back. With the potential departures of other guys like BC, Fabinho, Casey, or Cruz there will be ‘some’ bucks to allocate towards a goal scorer up front. Not all of those guys will leave…but some will. There may actually be more turnover than we think this offseason.

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