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Toronto FC announced the signing of goalkeeper Chris Konopka from the Philadelphia Union, in a trade that saw a third-round 2015 MLS SuperDraft pick going to the other way.
Konopka, 28, is a second-string goalkeeper, signed from the league goalkeeper pool by the New York Red Bulls in 2011. He joins Toronto FC as the fourth keeper in the roster, behind Joe Bendik, Stefan Frei and Quillan Roberts. Konopka has only earned one league appearance in each of his last two seasons, but featured in preseason and midseason friendlies for Philadelphia in 2012.
His acquisition by the club may not be headline-making news, but it does perhaps signal the end of Stefan Frei’s tenure at Toronto FC. The Swiss shot stopper has been on the outs since the beginning of the 2012 season, when Milos Kocic took the starting role. An injury left Frei out of commission last season, but he returned to the field in 2013, only to lose out to the revelatory Bendik.
Now, with another backup keeper in the club ranks, Frei’s time at Toronto FC seems destined to come to a close. He is not a reserve keeper and will be yearning for a starting spot at another team. It’s a sentiment that head coach Ryan Nelsen also agrees with. Kurt Larson of the Toronto Sun revealed, via Twitter, that Nelsen would be listening to offers for Frei, commending him on his professionalism as a footballer but acknowledging that Frei wants to play first-team football.
Besides the obvious fact that Frei hasn’t played much over the last two seasons, it’s a bit of a shame how his story has developed. Frei looked a dominant keeper in his first two seasons, performing better than anyone expected right off the bat and maintaining a high standard throughout his starting time at the club. That being said, Frei has been away from the field for a long time now and may not be the same keeper because of it.
In any case, it’s safe to say that Frei remains a tradable asset for the club. Nelsen told the press on Friday the team would be looking for two or three MLS regulars and also quipped that he receives several phone calls from other teams regarding those assets.
The question is: where would Frei go? One possibility is that Frei could be traded to the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Caps employ three goalkeepers of note in Joe Cannon, Brad Knighton and David Ousted. However, Cannon, at 38, is nearing the end of his career and Vancouver would be shopping for a third keeper soon. The Caps could offer a player like Darren Mattocks in exchange, and Frei could win a starting spot. He is certainly a more reliable option than Ousted and Knighton.
This isn’t the first time talk of Frei being traded has come up. Historically, Frei has been speculated as a potential option for teams like the New York Red Bulls, the Seattle Sounders and the Columbus Crew. However, it’s a case of too little, too late for Toronto FC. New York added a strong option in Luis Robles; Seattle picked up Michael Gspurning; finally, the Crew signed Andy Gruenebaum. Each is a strong starter for their respective sides, leaving Frei without a chance in some of the usual destinations that come up.
There are few teams in the league who are desperate for a goalkeeper. Dallas didn’t really have a starting quality player but now have Raul Fernandez, a league star. Houston’s Tally Hall remains a starter, too. Clint Irwin of Colorado, Zac MacMath in Philadelphia and Troy Perkins in Montreal have established themselves as quality options for their teams this season, too.
However, there is one team where Frei could earn a starting spot – Sporting Kansas City. The team’s goalkeeper, Jimmy Nielsen, is 36 years old. He considered retirement a few years back but stuck with the team for the long haul, and for good reason; Nielsen is a very good goalkeeper in this league. However, Nielsen also alluded to a potential retirement if Sporting Kansas City won the MLS Cup. That situation, though somewhat likely, isn’t something Toronto FC will bank on. However, if Nielsen does retire, Kansas would be looking for another goalkeeper to take his spot, and in Frei, the team would have the perfect player.
Frei to Kansas in exchange for Seth Sinovic and a draft pick would be a good bit of business for Toronto FC. C.J. Sapong would be an excellent trade option, too.
Speaking of retiring players, the Los Angeles Galaxy usually starts Carlo Cudicini between the posts. That name may sound familiar. He was a Chelsea player at one point and time. At 40 years old, Cudicini isn’t going to last forever. Frei, who came from the University of California Golden Bears, would surely welcome a return to California. The LA Galaxy can afford to lose a player like Robbie Rogers or Michael Stephens, but if Toronto FC can trade for midfielder Colin Clark, it would be a definite win.
So, there are options, not many, but some. In Frei, Toronto FC once had a tireless and devoted starter, but circumstances have changed. Frei is now an important piece to Toronto FC’s rebuilding process. How Toronto FC approached Frei’s potential trade may dictate a part of the team’s fate next season. It’s a trade Toronto FC has to win.
Ryan Nelsen, your phone is ringing!
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