With Marco Pappa signing with MLS, Seattle has a decision to make over the next few days.
When Sounders FC traded Mauro Rosales to Chivas USA on December 11, there were many facets to the trade.
The move cleared a Designated Player slot, which was then filled by Osvaldo Alonso, and brought in a young attacking option in Tristan Bowen, who at just 22 years old already has five years of experience in the league. But one piece that has become a major facet was a swap in the allocation order and Seattle is now in an excellent position because of it.
DC United held the first spot and traded it to the Philadelphia Union, who used it to nab Maurice Edu on loan from Stoke City. That leaves Seattle with first crack at any incoming U.S. National Team players or players returning to MLS after being previously sold from an MLS side.
On Wednesday, MLS announced that former Chicago Fire midfielder Marco Pappa had signed and would be going through the allocation process. Seattle has until Friday at 1 pm PT to decide to take him, trade him or pass and let him fall to the next highest team to select him.
“It’s a good situation for us. It’s one of the things we wanted to get out of the trade for Mauro,” Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid said. “Pappa is coming down the line and it certainly gives us options that we wouldn’t have if we were back at 11 or 12.”
Pappa, 26, had 26 goals and 16 assists in 112 MLS matches from 2008-2012 before his transfer to Heerenveen during the 2012 season. In two seasons with the Dutch club, he played just 12 matches.
An MLS All-Star in 2010, Pappa also has six goals in 39 appearances for Guatemala. Primarily a left-sided midfielder, Pappa began his pro career with Municipal in Guatemala.
