Sounders transfer rumor: Seattle passes on Cubo Torres

Erick "Cubo" Torres probably won't be wearing Rave Green, after all. Although the Seattle Sounders apparently were given the opportunity to sign the Mexico international forward, Goal.com is reporting that they balked at paying the $7.5 million transfer fee that would finalize his move from Chivas de Guadalajara. The LA Galaxy have also passed, reportedly, and the Houston Dynamo are now the favorites to land Torres.

The prospect of the Sounders signing Torres always seems a bit remote. Not only would his transfer fee be one of the highest MLS has ever paid, but there wasn't a clear solution to fitting him on the Sounders' roster. One possibility may have been that MLS is planning to add a fourth Designated Player spot or raising the standard at which a player is considered a DP, meaning the Sounders could potentially remove the tag from Osvaldo Alonso.

There was also a question as to where Torres would fit in with the Sounders on the field, being as they already have two of the league's best forwards.

Still, the prospect of Torres playing in Seattle was intriguing. The 21-year-old has already scored 22 league goals in just 44 games, despite playing for a mostly awful Chivas USA team, and recently scored his first goal for the senior Mexico national team.