Portland Timbers Offseason To-Do List: Part 3

A preview of MLS free agency.

When I was sketching out my plan for this monster offseason checklist, I anticipated covering all potential additions in a single article. However, this is the best class of MLS free agents in league history, so we’re only going to be covering MLS free agents in this article. Before we get into that, there are two pieces of roster business I want to cover. 

Larrys Mabiala

According to Transfermarkt, Spotrac, and Capology, Mabiala’s contract expires in 2024, not 2023. That’s pretty odd, because it seemed to be common knowledge that his contract was expiring this season. This made his lack of inclusion in the End-Of-Year Roster Decisions pretty odd. This is what happens when this stupid league is completely OK with being vague about contract information. I don’t understand why this is the only league in the world across ANY SPORT that insists on being shady regarding information that should be common knowledge, but Larrys Mabiala is still a Timber heading into 2024. 

Noel Caliskan

This is the most infuriating decision that was made for the End-Of-Year Roster Decisions. Giving up on a first-round SuperDraft pick after one season is a failure. I know that it would be hard for Caliskan to earn first team minutes given how many central midfielders are on the roster, but HAVE YOU SEEN THE INJURIES WE DEAL WITH ON A YEARLY BASIS? Even if Caliskan would play the majority of his minutes in T2, he deserved to stick around. I was really impressed with the maturity he showed on the pitch during his limited minutes, and he has the potential to become a solid MLS player. Just a confusing decision on all accounts. He’s eligible for the Re-Entry Draft, and he will get picked. What was the point of drafting him IN THE FIRST ROUND if you’re going to give up on him after one season? 

Free Agents

Now we can dig deeper into the pool of free agents. 

That’s a lot of talent. I’m going to go through each free agent that the Timbers should be targeting in alphabetical order.

Bryan Acosta

In Part 1 of this series, I said that it would be a mistake to retain Acosta. Let me be clearer: it would be a mistake to pick up his option. Letting him get to free agency is a risk, but if the Timbers can bring him back on a smaller contract it would be the best option for the team. Of course, it means that there would be another midfielder on the roster, but I think this was the team’s plan all along. The Timbers are still in contract talks with him, so I expect him to come back next year. The salary will be the most important part of the deal.

Maxime Crepeau

The Timbers have a goalkeeping problem, and Crepeau is the best keeper available. He must be heavily pursued by them. LAFC are going to try their hardest to keep him, and a bidding war could result. The Timbers allowed 58 goals from 44.1 xGa last season, and Crepeau needs to be the top target (both domestic and foreign) at goalkeeper to improve the team’s biggest weakness. 

Griffin Dorsey

He’s probably going back to Houston, but he’s coming off a career year and will definitely test the market. Eric Miller did not have his option picked up, but I doubt Dorsey would be OK with a substitute role behind Juan Mosquera. Either way, a backup right back is still a need, so the Timbers should at least reach out and see what he wants.

Omir Fernandez

Winger is still a need, and Fernandez can also play as a 10. Another player to keep an eye on even though I doubt we’re going to pursue him.

Nicolas Lodeiro

Could you imagine? It’s never going to happen, but this would be absolutely hilarious. His future is with the Uruguayan Dive Team, and he’s going to need to keep practicing somewhere. It is a Summer Olympics year, after all. Go win gold in Paris, Nico.

Eric Miller

I really thought the Timbers would pick up his option. It was a good contract for the team, and now it isn’t a guarantee that he would return. Unless the Timbers have another plan at right back, it makes sense to bring him back. They might have to pay him more though.

Donovan Pines

He’s 6’5” and 25 years old. Along with Crepeau, he should be one of the Timbers’ top targets. Miles Robinson is the only center back in this free agent crop who is a better option than him, but I expect him to go to Europe. Pines will be heavily pursued by every team in the league, so expect him to be expensive. I do think he’s worth it though. He’s a monster on set pieces and the Timbers continue to struggle on both offensive and defensive set pieces. Plus he’s a college teammate of Eryk Williamson. Time to pony up the dollars.

Maximiliano Urruti

` Hear me out. Urruti was key to Austin’s success in 2022, so it utterly confounds me that they opted to keep playing Gyasi Zardes over him in 2023. I think the open DP spot is earmarked for a winger, and the Timbers only have one striker on the roster entering 2024. If Urruti is open to a pay cut, bring him back. He can be an excellent striker off the bench and in spot start opportunities. 

Zarek Valentin

Simple reasoning here. The Timbers are in need of a backup right back and a backup left back, and Valentin can do both. He’s not going to command a high salary either. 

Re-Entry Draft Eligible Players

The Timbers should be exploring every possible option to acquire players. The Re-Entry Draft is the next place to start. Here are the rules for the Re-Entry Draft. It takes place tomorrow (December 14) at 10 AM Pacific Time.

(Link to the full list of eligible players)

William Yarbrough

He may be 34, but he’s very underrated. Definitely worth a look if Crepeau is showing no interest in Portland. Would probably be very cheap as well.

Waiver Draft

There is no intriguing names eligible for the waiver draft.

This concludes Part 3 of a 4-part series about the Timbers’ offseason. I’ll be back soon with a look at foreign targets, but I’m going to wait for free agency to become settled first to see what we end up doing. As always, RCTID, and see y’all later.