Sounders can ‘add any player we like,’ GM says

There won’t be any significant changes made to the roster before the summer transfer window opens in July, but the Seattle Sounders continue to give very strong indications that some significant additions will be made over the summer.

Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey confirmed to KJR on Saturday that the team has five senior roster spots open, can likely fill at least two of those without having to make any other changes and suggested one would be a Designated Player. This came a day after head coach Brian Schmetzer made a comment about adding players to the roster.

“We’ll try to add one or two or possibly three in the summer,” Lagerwey said. “We have the ability to add any player we like. We could probably add two without any subtraction.”

Although the Sounders technically have three DPs now, Osvaldo Alonso’s contract can still be bought down below the threshold. A midseason DP signing would count half as much against the salary cap as one signed at the start of the season.

Lagerwey also explained that the number of open roster spots is a little misleading in that he doesn’t envision a scenario where the Sounders fill all 31 spots, as S2 effectively fills the role of several of those.

While tacitly acknowledging there’s room for improvement, Lagerwey also pushed back against the idea that the team’s roster is in any short-term need. He noted that even in the best-case scenario additional players won’t be eligible to suit up until July 19, seven games from now.

“This is the roster of a defending champion,” he said. “We brought back nine starters and added Clint Dempsey. I don’t accept that we are where we should be at this stage in the season. I don’t think the group accepts it or believes it either.

“We have to find solutions from within the group. I think we have the talent to win.”