Sporting KC traded away Diego Rubio for out-of-use midfielder Kelyn Rowe. It is a puzzling move, but Peter Vermes likes it. For it to be a success, however, Rowe needs a resurgence.
It wasn’t the most popular move. Trading away your most prolific goalscorer and best centre-forward when that is one of the primary weaknesses of the team is rarely a smart decision. And yet, that is precisely what Sporting Kansas City this offseason.
Diego Rubio was traded to the Colorado Rapids, with Kelyn Rowe, of the New England Revolution, and $300,000 in allocation money coming the other way in a three-team trade. Edgar Castillo was traded from the Rapids to the Revolution as a part of the trade.
Rubio scored eight goals in 781 MLS minutes last season. That is an excellent return, a better goalscoring rate than Josef Martinez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Bradley Wright-Phillips and Wayne Rooney. Trading away such a player seems odd. And it is rarely not a positive move unless something that substantial is acquired in return.
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But for Peter Vermes, Rowe is a substantial return. Speaking to Kansa City Star, Vermes stated:
"“We’re getting a player who we’ve liked for a really long time, even when he was in college. He solidifies our midfield for the long term, and he can play on the left or right wing. He’s a really good player.”"
Rowe is a gifted player. But he has hardly played over the past two years, often seeing the most starting opportunities coming at left-back last season. Brad Friedel, who also traded away Lee Nguyen last season amid concerns that he did not suit his high-pressing style and was too expensive to keep on the roster, clearly did not see Rowe as a player who fit into his team. And, unfortunately, when that happens for a player, it can be extremely difficult for them to force their way back into the team.
Rowe, though, is keen to put the past year behind him and use it as motivation for the remainder of his career, starting with his time in Kansas City:
"“I never want to have a year like that again. I’ve pushed myself to make sure I don’t, it drives me. Knowing how bad that felt, I hope that was rock bottom and I never go any lower. I’m going to make sure of it.”"
For Sporting KC, they need to hope that Rowe can use his recent struggles to spur him into a resurgence. Losing a player as dangerous as Rubio, even if he does have limitations in his hold-up play and is yet to feature as a full-time starter, for a midfielder who, while talented, was clearly not fancied by Friedel for whatever reason, is a risky move, to say the least.
Rowe is a versatile midfielder, capable of playing centrally, deep, advanced and out wide, so he does provide nice depth and flexibility for Vermes. But he is not as naturally gifted as Rubio and there is no guarantee that he will be a regular starter in this team, such is the strength of the KC midfield already.
For this trade to be a success, therefore, Rowe must find a resurgence from somewhere. Perhaps Vermes can inspire it. Perhaps he cannot. But this is a very risky move indeed and it might just backfire.