Sounders trade top SuperDraft pick for left back Jones

  • By Don Ruiz The News Tribune
  • Thursday, January 14, 2016 6:52pm
  • SportsSports

The Seattle Sounders traded their top pick in the MLS SuperDraft to the Chicago Fire for left back Joevin Jones. And with that move, general manager Garth Lagerwey believes the club filled the final major hole in its roster heading into the new season.

“You’ll see us add more bodies in midfield potentially, but I believe we have a potential starting lineup intact,” Lagerwey said. “But I want to stress that we want competition for positions everywhere all over the field. … But I’ll say this: I think we have some guys with the potential and the capability of starting. … I think we’re pretty much covered on a positional basis all over the field.”

Lagerwey agreed he couldn’t have said that Thursday morning. Left back had been a position of need since the postseason parting of ways with longtime starter Leo Gonzalez. Holdover Dylan Remick failed to gain the club’s confidence as the logical heir, and 2015 draft pick Oniel Fisher is seen as a more natural fit at right back.

The Sounders moved to fix that by shipping the No. 15 overall pick and allocation money to Chicago for Jones, 24, who started 26 MLS games last season. That followed a five-year career in Trinidad &Tobago and Finland. He also has 37 appearances with the Trinidad &Tobago national team.

“Joevin is a player with speed and versatility that can come in and help our team,” coach Sigi Schmid said in a news release. “He played well for Chicago this past season, and we look forward to seeing what he brings.”

The trade left Seattle with two second-round picks. The club used the 27th overall pick to select Cal State Dominguez Hills central defender Tony Alfaro, and the 35th pick to take Duke midfielder Zach Mathers.

“On an organizational basis we really wanted to get deeper at the centerback position, from academy to S2 to first team,” Lagerwey said. “We got a left-footed centerback, which is a little bit harder to find, a kid with good feet, good size, and real potential. We’ll see how he develops.

“(Mathers is) a very smart soccer player, again a very good technical player who played a little bit father forward in college than we might project him to play … as a pro. So we’ll see how that shakes out, but he’s another guy that we think long term can develop and will definitely get some experience with S2 and hopefully use that as a vehicle to improve.”

The draft began with Chicago’s selection of Wake Forest midfielder Jack Harrison, who was then traded to New York City FC.

With the 12th overall pick, the Fire selected central defender Jonathan Campbell, formerly of the Pierce County-based Sounders U-23. With the 17th pick, FC Dallas selected goalkeeper Ryan Herman out of the University of Washington and Sounders FC Academy.

Overall, 41 selections were made Thursday, representing 29 colleges and 10 nations. The draft will conclude Tuesday when the third and fourth rounds are held by conference call.

The Sounders will open training camp Jan. 22 at Starfire Sports in Tukwila. They will open their CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal series with Club America of Mexico on Feb. 23. The club will begin its eighth MLS season March 6 when Sporting Kansas City visits CenturyLink Field.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

X
Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for March 8-17

The Athlete of the Week nominees for March 8-17. Voting closes at… Continue reading

X
Silvertips’ playoff picture coming together as season hits final week

Everett is officially the Western Conference’s No. 3 seed and is likely heading into a matchup with Kelowna or Vancouver.

Los Angeles Rams offensive guard Tremayne Anchrum (72) against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)
Seahawks add to position of need, sign guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr.

The 25-year-old has played in 31 games, starting once, since being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.

Everett Community College head coach Chet Hovde watches as the women's team practices on Tuesday, March 7, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
EvCC coach Chet Hovde, who ‘lived for’ basketball, dies at 77

Coach Hovde graduated from Everett High School in 1965. He spent 33 years as the women’s basketball coach at the community college.

Jackson’s Ian Friedrichsen celebrates his goal with his teammates during the game against Bothell on Thursday, May 11, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys soccer: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines for this high school boys soccer season

Jackson’s Rachel Sysum is hugged by Leneyah Mitchell after hitting a home run during the game against Bothell on Friday, May 19, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep softball: 5 things to watch for the 2024 season in Snohomish County

A look at the top local storylines to keep an eye on this high school softball season.

X
Prep roundup for Friday, March 15

Prep roundup for Friday, March 15: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Glacier Peak’s Samantha Christensen runs to home plate to celebrate her home run with her teammates during the game against Snohomish on Friday, March 15, 2024 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
GALLERY: Glacier Peak softball tops rival Snohomish

The Grizzlies prevail 9-5 in a clash of area powers.

X
Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14

Prep roundup for Thursday, March 14: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

The Washington Wolfpack logo is revealed during the Everett AFL team unveiling at Tony V's Garage in Everett, Washington onThursday, Oct. 26, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Everett’s new arena football team to have 4 televised games

The NFL Network will broadcast 30 AFL games this season, including two Wolfpack home games.

Washington coach Mike Hopkins yells to the team during the second half of the team's NCAA college basketball game against California, Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, in Seattle. California won 82-80. (AP Photo/Stephen Brashear)
Looking back at Mike Hopkins’ turbulent tenure as UW men’s basketball coach

The departing Huskies coach had highs early, but the good times didn’t last long.

X
Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16

Prep roundup for Saturday, March 16: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.