With just over 24 hours to go in the 2023 MLS secondary transfer market window, on Tuesday the Colorado Rapids dealt a pair of players to fellow Western Conference playoff contenders in exchange for capital and a future draft pick.
Here's a breakdown of both trades the Rapids made, which came after Colorado was bounced out of the League Cup Monday night against Liga MX side Toluca in disappointing fashion. After a three-week break, the Rapids will have 11 games remaining to turn the season around and cobble together something of a playoff push even though the team is currently in last place in the Western Conference.
Acosta heads to Portland
The Rapids traded midfielder Bryan Acosta to the Portland Timbers in exchange for $150,000 in 2023 General Allocation Money (GAM), plus upward of $175,000 in 2024 conditional GAM if certain performance metrics are met during the rest of the 2023 season.
Acosta joined Colorado ahead of the 2022 campaign via the MLS Re-Entry Draft as he was set to be a key role player alongside captain Jack Price. The front office believed he could be a possible replacement for midfielder Kellyn Acosta, who was instrumental in helping push Colorado to the top of the conference in 2021.
Over his 45 appearances for the Burgundy Boys, the 29-year-old Honduran veteran was serviceable but had a disappointing 2022 in which he led the team in yellow cards and had the second-highest mark in the league with 11. This season, while he was more disciplined and once again filled in admirably for the injured Price, it hasn't worked out for Acosta, who lost a spot to Danny Leyva, on loan from Seattle.
He was the fourth highest paid player on the Rapids with a guaranteed 2023 salary of $731,667. Portland will see Acosta as an important depth piece as the Timbers try to secure a postseason berth.
Markanich traded to St. Louis City
In a move the club announced at 1 p.m., Colorado acquired a future draft pick, plus more capital, in exchange for second-year defender Anthony Markanich. The Rapids received $75,000 in 2023 GAM, plus could see $75,000 in 2024 GAM if performance metrics are hit, as well as St. Louis City's first-round selection in the 2024 SuperDraft.
Markanich, a left back, was picked 26th overall in the 2022 draft and made his debut with the club last year. The Northern Illinois product played 17 times across all competitions, as well as being a regular starter for Rapids 2.
While well-liked by players, front office and coaches alike, Colorado acquired fellow left back Andrew Gutman earlier in the window as well as Alex Gersbach in the offseason, and thus, Markanich ultimately became the odd man out.
Colorado made the most of its 2023 SuperDraft pick Moïse Bombito, who has broken into the first team as a regular starter as well as the Canadian senior men's national team.
Sources told The Post last month that Colorado will remain active throughout the window as already four players have been inbound moves, but whether more deals will get done before the deadline remains to be seen.
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