LA Galaxy Transfer Rumors, and What Would Have to Happen First

By: Laurie | July 6th, 2008

It’s transfer time, and our defense is a sieve. So what’s standing in the way of our purchasing some really good defenders?

Two things: Money, and roster spots.

In short, we can’t purchase any players until we get rid of a non-developmental player and his salary to free up some cap space. I don’t think that anybody is doubting that this is going to happen, but it hasn’t happened yet. In the meantime, the rumors are swirling. Here are just a couple:

Rumor #1: Eduardo Dominguez coming into the Galaxy after leaving the Argentinian team Club Atlético Huracán. This has been written up in the Spanish-speaking press as a done deal.

Until it clears space and a roster slot, the Galaxy can’t officially acquire Argentine defender Eduardo Dominguez. Several Spanish-language outlets reported last week that Dominguez has left his last club, Huracan, to sign with MLS, about a month after contact between the parties had been initiated.

This one looks promising. And he’s not thirty yet, right? So a few good years left in the tank. We just need a place on the roster and the money to pay him.

Rumor #2: Carlos Ruiz to the Crew and Frankie Hejduk to the Galaxy. I’m not finding this in any legit news sources, and I can’t even remember where I read it — probably in a blog. Or maybe I’m starting my own rumor. Wouldn’t that be fun?

The version of the rumor I read had the Galaxy picking up $250,000 of Ruiz’s salary at Columbus. I believe that if this happened, $325,000 would count towards the Crew’s salary cap, but they wouldn’t have to give up a DP slot because Ruiz is grandfathered in. And Hejduk’s salary is listed at $150,000, so the Galaxy would get a defender and, as an added bonus, free up $175,000 in cap space.

Not sure this is what we need, though. Would Hejduk plug the holes the Galaxy needs plugged? And would he be able to do it for enough years to make this worthwhile? Or would this just be a stopgap measure?

Rumor #3: Ruiz out the door. Even if the Hejduk trade rumor is not true, it’s looking more and more like Carlos Ruiz may be getting the boot. How strange is it that I actually feel sorry for the guy? We all know how much I hated Carlos Ruiz before he came back to LA, right? And yet it feels like he never got a chance here after he got taken out at the knees in the first game against Colorado. I never really got a chance to see what he could do at this phase of his career.

Or maybe I did, in his five- or ten-minute substitution appearances. Maybe that’s why he’s heading out the door? Who knows?

Los Angeles needs to find cap room, as well, to shore up its backline, with striker Carlos Ruiz being offered to San Jose and at least one other team, according to a source. But his high salary ($460,000) and commitments to the Guatemalan national team have impaired efforts to move him.

In case you’ve forgotten about the team makeup and how much salary we could free up by trading individual players, here’s the team list, with the following notes:

Israel Sesay — remember him? That talented youngster the team has no clue what to do with? — is Generation Adidas, meaning his salary doesn’t count against the cap.

Adzemian Vardan and Scott Bolkan are currently on loan to the Portland Timbers. I think Bryan Jordan is still there too?

Players in bold below are the senior players on the roster. Each MLS team is limited to 18.

On the other hand, the non-bolded players are the developmental players. Getting rid of them wouldn’t solve the roster/salary issues, even if they weren’t paid peanuts.

LA Adzemian Vardan D $ 12,900.00 $ 12,900.00
LA Alamo Charles GK $ 12,900.00 $ 12,900.00
LA Allen Ely F $ 36,000.00 $ 44,750.00
LA Beckham David M $ 5,500,000.08 $ 6,500,000.04
LA Bolkan Scott M $ 12,900.00 $ 12,900.00
LA Buddle Edson F $ 147,000.00 $ 157,000.00
LA Cronin Steve GK $ 75,000.00 $ 75,000.00
LA Donovan Landon F $ 900,000.00 $ 900,000.00
LA Franchino Joey D $ 50,000.00 $ 50,000.00
LA Franklin Sean M-D $ 36,000.00 $ 48,500.00
LA Gavin Michael D $ 17,700.00 $ 17,700.00
LA Gordon Alan F $ 72,504.00 $ 72,504.00
LA Higgins Vito GK $ 12,900.00 $ 12,900.00
LA Jazic Ante D-M $ 120,000.00 $ 125,625.00
LA Jordan Bryan F $ 12,900.00 $ 12,900.00
LA Klein Chris M $ 150,000.00 $ 150,000.00
LA McDonald Brandon D $ 17,700.00 $ 17,700.00
LA Pires Alvaro M $ 100,000.00 $ 110,775.31
LA Randolph Michael D $ 33,000.00 $ 33,000.00
LA Roberts Troy D $ 33,000.00 $ 33,000.00
LA Ruiz Carlos F $ 350,000.00 $ 460,000.00
LA Sesay Israel F $ 45,000.00 $ 77,083.33
LA Tudela Josh M $ 17,700.00 $ 17,700.00
LA Vagenas Peter M $ 144,000.00 $ 144,000.00
LA Valentin Julian D $ 12,900.00 $ 12,900.00
LA Vanney Greg D $ 91,800.00 $ 91,800.00
LA Wicks Josh GK $ 38,000.00 $ 38,000.00
LA Xavier Abel D $ 156,000.00 $ 156,000.00

So what do you think? Who should head out the door to make way for some good defense?

Some Related Galaxy Posts:

Category: Player News

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SicSemprTyranis

Xavier is an absolute waste of space. Jazic is not much better. The whole backline makes me want to throw up in my mouth. I would love to see the Galaxy actually have someone back there who has a decent touch and just doesn't send the ball up on needless give-aways to clear the zone....
Colin

roberts is only making $33,000, while xavier is making $156,000, and jazic $120,000. if the galaxy are looking to open up some room, why would you want to get rid of roberts, who makes peanuts compared to those two?
Lee

Just looking at who's playing and who isn't, I'd
say Vanney or Roberts. Ruiz is pretty good trade
bait so I doubt they'll just release him.
Colin

Great pick-up for the Galaxy... I bet we'll be seeing Ruiz, Jazic, or Xavier heading out the door pretty soon.
David

So how do you think they use him? Put him left back and move Mikey up to midfield?
Bob

I see they finally officially announced Dominguez on their web site. But who is the senior roster spot they need to clear to make room for him???
Jon E

I'm still mad at Lalas (or Bravo or whoever actually handled the deal) for the way that Albright got dumped, but I don't think sentimental considerations should determine what the Galaxy does with Vagenas. We need lots of help in the back (and the midfield), and that means we need the cap space to get it.

If Gullit thinks Vagenas can contribute as a back-up or is doing something vital in the locker room, then fine. But if not--and I suspect it's a not--then he should be traded or waived.

Given that the Galaxy is actually making a fair chunk of money these days, if they do waive Vagenas the team should definitely offer him a cushy off-field job of some kind, even if it's a sinecure.
Justin

Alvaro is really not that bad and he is only 23 years old, he will get better. He is more of a DM though, I think we need a formation change once these new guys come in.
Mike

There are so many changes needed with this team. First, get rid of Alvaro, Xavier, and Jazic. All 3 are a waste of money. Second, this Dominguez guy hopefully wont be a bust. They say he's good, but we'll see how he adjusts to the MLS. It's sad that he's the same age as Albright, but we traded the guy after he took a pay cut and this new fellow may cost more. Also, we should look into getting Hejduk for Ruiz. That way, once we lose Alvaro, Klein can play that holding mid spot. His defense is good, but Hejduk is faster. Hopefully they make some good decisions in the coming weeks.
Justin

I would move Klein to RM and slide Beckham over to a CAM. He can hang on to the ball and he is always ending up out of position anyways. Or you could move Beckham up to a more wing position and play Klein as a RCM and Pires as the LCM. something like a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3.
bluemeanies

Unless Sigi the Hutt is insane (or the crew wins the Brian McBride sweepstakes), no way is Hedjuk leaving Columbus. He is the fan-favorite heart and soul player there and could only be supplanted with the return of McBride.
Nicole

Just to shed some light - the Galaxy definitely did sign Eduardo Dominguez. So it's no longer a rumor!! But I don't think he can play until after July 15th; something about transfer windows.

Here's the link:
http://www.dailynews.com/sport...

"Notes: The Galaxy finally confirmed the signing of Argentine defender Eduardo Dominguez, who plays for Club Atletico Huracan, which is based in Buenos Aires."
Laurie

Steve, I was really liking your idea of bringing in Hejduk and moving Klein up to midfield when I remembered that the right midfield slot is taken by some guy...let me see...Beckman, Beckingham, something like that...

Serious question, though. Where were you picturing Klein in the midfield? Can he play in the center? Or were you picturing Beckham in a different spot? I'm not being a smartass here -- I'm really wanting to know. I know Beckham has played central midfield at times in the past, but I'm betting Ruud isn't going to be messing with something that works as well as Beckham on the right this year.

If the result of bringing in Hejduk would be benching Klein, I don't think I could get behind it. Seriously, it would break my heart to not play somebody who still has so much skill and commitment and passion. So what are the other options?
Steve

Hejduk would be great. He'd fill the Klein role of overlapping runs, but combine it with competent defending. Maybe then, Klein can go up to the midfield or even, dare I say it, striker (which he used to do well) When LAG played Columbus, Hejduk was always threatening. The downside is when the US team plays, we'll lose him as well as Donovan. But him for Ruiz,..I'm in favor of it.
With this Argentian defender, it raises some interesting possibilities. I still maintain that Abel had a bad game vs. NE and that he should stay. With extra support, maybe Franklin could go to the midfield, where he played when he was at CSUN, and was outstanding. The guy's got crazy technical skills and his speed is an asset. A Beckham, Klein, Franklin, Randolph midfield would be something to see. Ely Allen has to be loaned out somewhere. He's good, but needs some playing time.
The left side still needs work. I hope Randolph works out there (can't believe I was hoping for a Kyle Martino return a few weeks ago).
I like Alvaro. He's slow but his work ethic is great.
I agree with a previous post about Kelly Gray..why??!! Vanney, I hope is waived or traded.
Is there a head office job available for Pass-back Pete? He should stay in the organization but maybe not on the pitch.
Laurie

Thanks, Keith. I was busy with other stuff when that happened in early June, and I was never sure whether or not the loan had happened.
Keith

Bryan Jordan is still in LA. Saw him in the team suite next to Wicks.
el

Ruiz has to go. I want to like him, but I haven't seen him play because of injuries, national duty， and buddlexcellence. I felt the offense was needless overstocked before. And it's sad. Last game the passing was so clumsy. They really need to strenghten midfield and defense. And Xavier seems so slow too.
Phil M.

making only 12,900 a year what do they work at mcdonalds on the offseason and I would think donovan can make more than that some where else!
Werner

ps i wouldn't waive or trade Vagenas because that it's not fair. Those guys i just listed haven't been here for a while, and Vagenas has done a lot for the team! His lose would be like the hartmen and albright lose! And the Ruiz lose... remember he did win the championchip in '02
Werner

I want to keep, carlos! Buddle is doing awesome, but i kind of feel he goes through phases! right now he is in a killer phase like he was in columbus, but then he died down for a long time! Carlos should be the back up for now, he would be ten times a better back up than Gordan!

Here is what i think!
Trade or Waive
Alan Gordan
Abel Xavier
Greg Vanney
Alvaro Pirlo
Joe Franchino
thats about 480k!

And you sign Dominques (i hope to God that Bravo did his job and signed a good player) and gets some good holding midfields! (WHY THE HELL DID WE EVER REALSE KELLY GRAY! good defending midfielder with a good salary)!