Remember The Trialist

it happens in most leagues. I know in MLB that a team that cuts an injured player is on the hook for their medical treatment until another team signs them.

I don’t think that will happen for OBW. If he’s healthy he’s so gifted, and there’s really no way to know whether his clotting issue will come back.

In Washington state, we are an at-will state. Meaning either employer or employee can break an employment relationship with no liability. There are some limits to an employer’s ability to terminate an employee. Such as if the firing is somehow connected to discrimination. Washington also has an “implied contract” exception. Such as if you get a handbook when you are hired that says employees will not be fired except for good cause, etc.

EXCEPT, as you say is it different with athletes? There is a union and collective agreement between players and owners that may have something in writing (I doubt it). As for covering medical expenses, the team’s insurance would manage this to maximum medical improvement as determined by OBW’s doctors and medical providers.
And I am not a lawyer so don’t quote me on this.

running, shooting, dribbling and that kind of thing

I guess I can see why you’re surprised the Sounders haven’t signed any LatAm players this offseason, but that seems to ignore the possibility that they players the Sounders did sign were more what the team was looking for than the LatAm options. I’m assuming you don’t think the Sounders should focus on LatAm and ignore other potentially quality players. I’m fairly certain this is just a case of the Sounders looking for the best possible players, regardless of where they come from.

As for looking at players from Europe/Africa, they’ve never really signed a player from Africa as Nkufo was clearly more European than African. The Euros who have left are essentially Ljungberg and Friberg, unless I’m missing someone. Not exactly a huge sample size.

Neither has Le Toux.

As we begin to build a reputation with Uruguay and Argentina…I would consider it a backwards step to put more focus into LatAm and take away from the connections we are making in S America.

I am sure Honduras, Costa Rica, and elsewhere have players to continue to scout but if we could continue to gain players from S America I would do that instead.

except for maybe the fact that Latin America is closer. Does it really matter where the Sounders find players from? Is something wrong with the team if we end up with no Latin American players? As long as we’re competing in the MLS and other competitions I don’t see a problem. (Now I don’t think it’s likely that would ever happen, but I don’t think it’s a problem if it does as long as the team is still doing well.)

I don’t think the FO really puts that much thought into the specific locations anyone is from. Obviously due to proximity it’s easier to find players in Latin America, but it’s also easier for our MLS teams. This is the reason they are looking at T&T and Tanzania. If they see a player that has potential or is an upgrade why not bring them in if they are affordable?