'Nothing Official' But Sounders Reportedly Sign Trinidad & Tobago's Cordell Cato

by Jeremiah Oshan on Dec 20, 2011 8:56 PM PST in Sounders: Trades, Transfers and Rumors

This isn't the big name signing that Seattle Sounders fans have been hoping for, but it sure looks like they are close to signing Trinidad & Tobago teenager Cordell Cato, a forward/midfielder who has played for his country's U-20 team. The Trinidad Express says the deal is basically done, but Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer was more cautious when asked for comment.

"He’s a player that we like, but nothing official," he wrote to Sounder at Heart in an email that could have been ripped straight off @FakeAdrianH's Twitter feed.

Reading through the code a little, I think we can safely say the Sounders are at least close to signing Cato. We know the Sounders had Cato in for a trial last year (in fact, Sounder at Heart reported on it) and that they liked what they saw. He's young (19) and that appears to be something else the Sounders are looking for.

Aside from all that, there's really not much to say about this kid. There's really nothing out in the interwebs that can give us any sense of how good (or bad) this signing may be, but it's probably a low-risk gamble with a potential for some upside. Assuming it's true, the Sounders should still have at least four open roster spots and nearly a month before the season starts.

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Exciting News!

(In that I find almost any Sounders news exciting these days.)

Sounds like a worthwhile investment, with payoff on the field maybe later than sooner?

In any case, with 4 open spots and 4 weeks remaining, I wouldn’t mind a signing announcement a week between now and January 20th. Yep, that’d be just fine.

by bago'juice on Dec 20, 2011 9:03 PM PST reply actions

Transfer fee...

Do we have any idea if there will be a transfer fee involved?

by Iam333 on Dec 21, 2011 12:01 AM PST via Android app reply actions

I wondered

about that yesterday if there was a transfer fee or would he be coming here as a free.

by gstommylee on Dec 21, 2011 6:23 AM PST up reply actions

The new

Miguel Montano

by ZippyZebra on Dec 21, 2011 12:56 AM PST reply actions 3 recs

Exactly what I thought

New project, high upside (hopefully), probably sub 60k salary. Competing for minutes w/ Roger, Estrada, new draft picks etc.

Section 120, Row G, Seat 13

by _zorbthegeek on Dec 21, 2011 8:01 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

Not currently on a roster

According to the article from Trinadad Tobago, it looks like Cato isn’t currently attached to a team. At 19, I would expect him to be at the league minimum for young players and off cap. Last year those players made $32.5K.

In all honesty, this is most likely a project for the future. If he works very hard, listens and goes about his business, he will see time in the reserve league and perhaps make the 18 a couple of times for non MLS games like the USOC or CCCL Group stage. Let’s hope that he doesn’t have the same problems that Montano had with Sigi. With the depth of the Sounders roster, he is going to need to manage his expectations.

by Abbott Smith on Dec 21, 2011 8:13 AM PST up reply actions

Let's not just blame Sigi for Montano's lack of time

Miguel even in Reserve games showed both brilliant and horrid moments in equal measure. He also had issues in his public presentation, basically saying that he didn’t want to be here anymore.

I am not a Supporter | I am not a Fan | I am a Sounder
Sounder At Heart Follow @bedirthan Dave's Twitter

by Dave Clark on Dec 21, 2011 8:34 AM PST up reply actions

Sorry for the confusion. I wasn't blaming Sigi at all.

I was being polite to Miguel. My personal take on the situation was that Miguel let his ego and immaturity get in the way of his development. His problem with Sigi was that he didn’t want to listen to what his coaches were telling him. His ego was writing checks that his brain and skills couldn’t cash. Ultimately it got to the point that in order to move forward Miguel needed to have a change of scenery because he was rationalizing his lack of playing time with the sentence, “The coach has it in for me.”

I sincerely hope that Mr.Cato is coming to learn and grow.

by Abbott Smith on Dec 21, 2011 8:54 AM PST up reply actions

nice

19 forward / midfield not bad

by alexyepz on Dec 21, 2011 12:59 AM PST via mobile reply actions

He's a player that we like.....

Nudge, nudge, wink, wink….

At least AH is consistent.

by Abbott Smith on Dec 21, 2011 6:33 AM PST reply actions

AH in a cafe

Server: “Sir, would you like a coffee?”
AH: “Coffee is a drink that I like.”
Server: “Okay, but would you like some now.”
AH: “I always look at coffee on a menu. I mean, it is my responsibility to make this breakfast as good as possible and looking at coffee is a big part of that.”
Server: “I am sorry, I am confused. Would you like coffee now?”
AH: “I never comment on whether I would like coffee at any particular moment. Just know, we are always looking to make this breakfast better and that means looking at all possible breakfast drinks.”

by @Thomas513 on Dec 21, 2011 9:01 AM PST up reply actions 27 recs

hilarious

by Ryan R Ray on Dec 21, 2011 9:21 AM PST reply actions

We know Adrian reads the site,

I think he was talking in code to the internet community and confirming the deal :)

"The fans are excited. And the stadium, well, it ignites with explosion."

by DarthGreedo on Dec 21, 2011 9:34 AM PST reply actions

Please tell me this isn't him!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwatLuZPJWU

by Ryan R Ray on Dec 21, 2011 9:34 AM PST reply actions

That's not

him

by gstommylee on Dec 21, 2011 9:46 AM PST up reply actions

That would be #11 midfielder Carlos Edwards

Here is the link of the roster.

Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!

by chrisso on Dec 21, 2011 10:01 AM PST up reply actions

Yup

Didn’t trust wikipedia since that only since it only showed the current roster.

So I found this Match Report that also says it’s Carlos Edwards and a vide highlightso of the same match day.

by hormd on Dec 21, 2011 9:20 PM PST up reply actions

Solid research, right there.

Edwards has been with the team a long time.

Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!

by chrisso on Dec 21, 2011 9:28 PM PST up reply actions

Roster Note

All 5 of the Sounders min salary spots are currently full (one possible reason for the Montano deal). We would need to cut/promote one of our young players to put Cato @ 32k.

by Iam333 on Dec 21, 2011 11:03 AM PST via Android app reply actions

Pay raise

I would imagine that based on age and performance, one or two of last year’s min salary players will see a pay raise to the senior league minimum. (42K in 2011) I would be surprised if Cato isn’t one of the minimum salary youth players if he is signed.

by Abbott Smith on Dec 21, 2011 11:14 AM PST up reply actions

Sounds Reasonable

The 5 current minimum Salary guys are Carrasco, Seamon, Ford, Neagle, and Meridith. Smart money, imo, says either Carrasco or Neagle or both get pay bumps. Both are near starting quality, rotational guys.

by Iam333 on Dec 21, 2011 11:55 AM PST via Android app up reply actions

neagle should definitely get a bump

by Sandra_R on Dec 21, 2011 12:04 PM PST up reply actions

Ford and Neagle

If either Ford or Neagle has a birthday before the end of the 2012 season, they will have to be bumped up to the senior league minimum. Minimum salary youth players cannot must be under 25 years old for the entire season. Ford and Neagle are both 24.

by Abbott Smith on Dec 21, 2011 12:29 PM PST up reply actions

According to wikipedia...

Neagle: May 7
Ford: November 6.

by Czazall on Dec 21, 2011 1:17 PM PST up reply actions

Sounders' website has same birthdays

Nos audietis in somniis, Nos audietis in altum: You will hear us!

by chrisso on Dec 21, 2011 1:26 PM PST up reply actions

so...

Would both of them need the bump or just Neagle? When did the season end this year… Nov 20 I think. They probably both need bumps.

by Iam333 on Dec 21, 2011 2:50 PM PST via Android app up reply actions

I think both will

Here’s the rule in verbatim: Any player making $32,600 must be under the age 25 (does not turn 25 or older in 2011).

Granted this is for the 2011 season but I don’t see any indications this will be changed for next year. As they both turn 25 next year, I think they both will get bumped up.

I thought there might have been some gray area concerning where the birthday fell in relation to the end of the regular season but alas MLS was actually fairly straight forward with a rule for once.

by eosrebel on Dec 22, 2011 12:49 AM PST up reply actions