Cabrera makes no secret of desire to sign free agent Beasley
Wilmer Cabrera wakes up every day with great anticipation, hoping that overnight the offseason has delivered to the Dynamo one more piece of good news.
Cabrera, the club’s first-year coach, has said time and again that he hopes veteran defender DaMarcus Beasley will sign a new deal. Cabrera is leaving the negotiating up to general manager Matt Jordan, who has been working for months to bring the free agent back to the Dynamo.
Preseason training begins Wednesday, and it will go on with or without Beasley, 34, whose Dynamo contract expired at the end of the 2016 season.
But Cabrera hopes the player he calls the best left back in the country will be there sooner rather than later.
“You don’t play four World Cups just because you are good or you are a good guy,” Cabrera said. “It is because you are very talented. I expressed that personally to DaMarcus. I want him back because for me he is one of the captains of the team and one of the icons and leaders.”
Beasley is in Los Angeles training with the U.S. national team, so his playing days clearly are not over.
But if they are to continue in Houston, he will have to take a significant pay cut from the $750,000 salary he made last season as a designated player.
The Dynamo have filled the designated-player spot he vacated with Honduran forward Alberth Elis.
The U.S. team’s camp ends Monday. Beasley likely would return to his home in Houston anyway. Whether he also returns to training with the Dynamo on Wednesday remains to be seen.
“I hope he will come soon,” Cabrera said. “From the first day, I said I wanted Beasley back. I haven’t changed that.
SuperDraft day turns out well
While most Major League Soccer clubs were focused on bringing in college players who most likely will help in the future, the Dynamo used draft day to complete a trade for a veteran they had been working on for weeks.
The Dynamo traded for Los Angeles Galaxy defender A.J. DeLaGarza, 29, sending $175,000 in allocation money to their Western Conference rival. That trade would not have been possible if the Dynamo had not executed another trade earlier that day. The Dynamo sent the No. 4 pick to the Portland Timbers in exchange for $100,000 in general allocation money, the No. 10 overall pick and a 2017 international roster spot.
The Dynamo drafted Hofstra University midfielder Joe Holland with the 10th pick, a player who climbed draft boards after an impressive showing during the combine.
“We came into the day with a very clear plan, and we couldn’t be happier with the way the day went,” GMMatt Jordan said.
Roster overhaul after poor 2016
Of the 27 players who ended 2016 on the Dynamo roster, 14 remain.
After the team finished last in the MLS Western Conference, the front office moved quickly to improve the roster. The most noteworthy additions are Honduran forwards Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto. Elis is a designated player on loan from Mexican side Monterrey. The Dynamo acquired Quioto on a full transfer from Honduran club Olimpia.
Defensive midfielder Juan David Cabezas, acquired on loan from Colombian side Cali, is expected to make an impact.
Training camp includes travel
The Dynamo will have two out-of-town stints during preseason training.
They will train in McAllen with USL affiliate Rio Grande Valley FC from Feb. 3-8. Their first scrimmage will be against RGV FC on Feb. 4.
After a brief return to Houston, the club will fly to Tucson, Ariz., for the Desert Diamond Cup. The Dynamo will play four matches between Feb. 15 and Feb. 25. Their first three opponents are the New England Revolution, New York City FC and the New York Red Bulls.
The regular-season opener is March 4 at BBVA Compass Stadium against reigning MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC.