Three years ago, Dwayne De Rosario was the best player in Major League Soccer, voted the league’s MVP while a member of D.C. United.
On Wednesday, Toronto FC declined its contract option on De Rosario, likely signaling the end of the Canadian international’s second tenure with the Reds.
There’s a chance, be it ever so slight, that De Rosario, 36, might stay at the club. TFC could offer him a new deal for less money. But, realistically, Dero’s time in Toronto is done, and that’s for the best for all parties involved.
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De Rosario’s recent stint with Toronto was supposed to mark a new beginning for both the club and player. It didn’t turn out that way. TFC failed to make the playoffs for an eighth straight year, and De Rosario struggled for playing time—he made just 19 regular season appearances (506 minutes in total, four starts), and scored one goal.
It was a frustrating situation for De Rosario, who remained committed to TFC even when he felt he was being overlooked by coach Ryan Nelsen.
“As a player I really want to do well for this city, and want to bring this city, my city, some success. But when your hands are tied it’s tough,” De Rosario told Sportsnet back in August, just days before Nelsen was fired.
Unless he changed his mind since that summer discussion, De Rosario isn’t considering calling it quits.
“If they want to force me into retirement, if they think I’m going to hang up my boots because I’m not playing, they got another thing coming. … The moment I wake up in the morning and feel like it’s a burden to come out and train and I’m not enjoying it, I won’t play,” De Rosario stated.
“Right now I enjoy playing, in spite of everything, and I still feel like I got a lot to offer.”
De Rosario made the move to Toronto last off-season because he wanted to end his career at his hometown club. Any maybe there’s still a chance for that to happen.
But if he’s serious about wanting to continue to play for club and country, it’s best that he move on from TFC and finds a new team. Even at 36, he remains it great physical shape, and can still contribute if given the chance.
Who to protect in expansion draft?
Also on Wednesday, Toronto announced it has declined options on defender Ryan Richter, midfielder Jeremy Hall and forward Andrew Wiedeman.
Forward Bright Dike’s contract has expired, while Bradley Orr (Blackburn) and Doneil Henry (Apollon Limassol) will return to their parent clubs after their loan deals expired. Striker Jordan Hamilton returns to Toronto from his loan stint with CD Trofense in Portugal.
Toronto FC currently has 22 players on its roster (see list below), but that could drop to 20 after next Wednesday’s expansion draft featuring New York City FC and Orlando City.
TFC will be able to protect 11 players. Generation Adidas and homegrown players on the developmental roster are automatically protected. Designated players are not automatically protected.
Expansion rules stipulate that each MLS team can lose no more than two players in the draft, and that once you lose a player, you can protect another.
Toronto FC’s 2015 roster as it currently stands:
Goalkeepers (3): Joe Bendik, Chris Konopka, Quillan Roberts.
Defenders (7): Steven Caldwell, Mark Bloom, Justin Morrow, Nick Hagglund, Warren Creavalle, Ashtone Morgan, Chris Mannella.
Midfielders (9): Michael Bradley, Jonathan Osorio, Dominic Oduro, Jackson, Kyle Bekker, Collen Warner, Daniel Lovitz, Manny Aparicio, Marco Delgado.
Forwards (4): Jermain Defoe, Gilberto, Luke Moore, Jordan Hamilton.
Aparicio, Hamilton, Manella, Morgan and Roberts are all homegrown players, so they’re automatically protected.
Here are the 11 players I would protect:
Joe Bendik—Top goalkeeper, and TFC’s clear No. 1. Can’t afford to lose him.
Steven Caldwell—Hard to believe either New York or Orlando would take on that contract. But he’s an experienced defender, and TFC doesn’t have many of those. Losing Caldwell would put Reds in an even greater hole.
Mark Bloom—Was steady at right fullback in his first full season with Toronto. Big upside to him.
Justin Morrow—One of the best left fullbacks in MLS, and TFC’s most consistent player in 2014.
Nick Hagglund—Centre back who showed a great deal of promise in his rookie year.
Michael Bradley—The foundation of the team.
Jonathan Osorio—He’s Canadian, so Orlando and New York would have to burn an international roster slot on him. But he’s an emerging young star in MLS.
Marco Delgado—Was the steal pick of the Chivas USA dispersal draft.
Jermain Defoe—Yes, he’s going in January. But best to protect him as an asset to ensure that you can sell him off.
Gilberto—TFC’s most dynamic attacking player in 2014. Has a bright future ahead of him in MLS. TFC could also sell him for a profit in the future if they wanted to.
Luke Moore—Experienced forward who can score the odd goal and create.