Major Link Soccer: Orlando City signs a contender for heaviest player in MLS

Seattle

What many of us have been assuming about Lagerwey since December should become official today.

Lamar Neagle showed up to the SonarFeed fundraiser, and he also appears in the top 5 long distance MLS goals of 2014.

MLS

Columbus Crew SC announced today that Federico Higuain has signed a new Designated Player contract. The deal is confirmed as the largest ever signed by a Crew SC player.

SBI offers a 2015 MLS Mock Draft. With the second pick, SBI has NYC FC taking Cristian Roldan, the midfielder from University of Washington. "Jason Kreis loves skilled midfielders and Roldan has the sort of tools Kreis can mold into something special."

Liam Ridgewell is likely going on loan to Wigan for two months. He would miss time at the Arizona training camp, but would still make it back a couple weeks before the season starts.

Indentured, Servants: The sad, secret lives of MLS mascots.

Orlando City FC signed Brazilian centerback Gustavo Silva Conceição. His nickname is "The Fridge," presumably because he is large and not because he used to be a refrigerator repairman or something. He is 6'1" and 198 pounds, which got me curious about the heaviest players in MLS. Most of them are goalies with Chris Seitz winning (losing?) the award at 236 lbs. Zat Knight is listed as the heaviest field player at 225. Can you name the heaviest Sounder? How about heaviest Seahawk? Heaviest Mariner?*

US

The U-20 roster was chosen for up the upcoming World Cup Qualifying cycle. Ramos is happy with the group he has and here are 5 players to watch. The U.S. bowed out in the group stage without a win in Turkey 2013 after failing to qualify for Colombia 2011. That broke a string of seven straight U-20 World Cup qualifications, and the U.S. also didn’t qualify for the 2012 Summer Olympics, marking a downturn for the U.S. youth.

World

The FIFA VP is mounting a bid against current President Sepp Blatter. The 39-year-old Prince of Jordan will take on the 79-year-old Swiss on a May 29 vote in Zurich.

An English club is selling tickets to a Manchester United game that never happened.

Gerrard isn’t done playing Liverpool hero just yet. Watch his 2 goals lead the Reds in FA Cup http://t.co/swwNeFeZHj pic.twitter.com/mOOKW3Ng6S

— Planet Fútbol (@si_soccer) January 5, 2015

*Kenny Cooper at 210. Justin Britt for the Seahawks at 325. Yoervis Medina at 245 for the Mariners.