The Offseason So Far: Um...
Things are good in Toronto, though they're pretty obviously bummed to have lost youngster Raheem Edwards – a crucial part of their Supporters' Shield and Canadian Championship triumphs. I'm still unclear as to why he was left available in the expansion draft, but Eriq Zavaleta and Nick Hagglund were protected.
With Edwards gone and Steven Beitashour's future in limbo the Reds are suddenly a little bit thin on the flanks. They've been good at finding answers from within and via the SuperDraft, and they've been the cleverest bunch in the league at making use of everyone else's scraps. However it works out, I'm sure they'll be three-deep just about everywhere, as they were last year.
Expect a young back-up for Michael Bradley, by the way, and expect them to sign TFC2 CB Jelani Peters.
JAN. 2 UPDATE: US U-17 winger Ayo Akinola, signed as a Homegrown, probably warranted a mention in the first run through of this update. I don't think he'll figure much until 2019, but the Reds did well to keep the soon-to-be 18-year-old home.
Nothing else happening yet aside from a dubious rumor about Argentinean CB German Conti.
JAN. 24 UPDATE: I mean, what would you be doing this offseason if you were TFC?
They have not made any big moves. In addition to Akinola they did sign Homegrown d-mid Liam Fraser, who will have a great vantage point from which he can watch Bradley play 3000 minutes this year.
There is a clear need now, though: right wingback/fullback. Beitashour did indeed sign with LAFC, and Oyvind Alseth (a rookie last year) won't be back. Another rookie – Tim Kubel, a 24-year-old German who played college ball at Louisville – could inherit that spot, with Nicolas Hasler the presumptive starter. That could work.
My guess, though, is that the Reds go bigger. They've been credibly linked with former Dutch national team right back Gregory Van Der Wiel who, at 29, has plenty of gas left in the tank and fits the mold of a TAM signing. That would give the Reds absurd quality and depth at that spot, and stand them in good stead as they approach the CCL.
