Colorado Rapids Open MLS Silly Season With Surprise Andrew Gutman Trade, Swap Left Backs With Chicago Fire

COMMERCE CITY – Colorado Rapids have swapped starting liftbacks with Chicago Fire, the clubs announced Tuesday morning. The Rapids receive 24-year-old Venezuelan international Miguel Navarro and $450,000 in General Allocation Money (half in 2024, half in 2025) in exchange for Andrew Gutman. Chicago would receive a percentage of any future transfer fee if Navarro were transferred to a team outside of MLS.

This Andrew Gutman trade took many in the Rapids Community by surprise. Gutman was excellent and became a fan favorite from his first appearance in July against FC Dallas. He was electric going forward, played with intensity, and immediately brought what had been missing from the team since Sam Vines left the club two years prior. Gutman is from the western suburb of Hinsdale and was with the Fire as a youth player.

“We would have needed to give him a long term contract. He was a year away from free agency. Part of him saw himself in Chicago, going home. That would have required a significant financial commitment on our and Andrew to make that commitment as well. Without him out and out saying it, he wanted at some point to go back to Chicago. We had to make a move to capture some value,” Sporting Director Fran Taylor said.

Navarro (pronounced phonetically na-VAH-ro unlike Rafael Navarro) joined Chicago in 2020. Prior to that, he spent his entire career in Venezuela. Last season, he started 22 MLS games, played 1973 minutes, and recorded four assists.

Glass House Soccer told Burgundy Wave “I won’t miss him. He is a solid left back/wing back. Likes to push forward, and has played some excellent crosses. He didn’t contribute enough to the offense in that role, and he is not a good 1-v-1 defender. He also has as temper. There’s a great clip of him in the Fire’s final game vs. Charlotte bickering with Enzo Copetti, then Navarro just kicks his leg out, giving up a PK.”

As Rabbi Mark Goodman pointed out yesterday via FBref, Gutman is overall the better attacking leftback, while Navarro is a better defender. Navarro’s assist metrics are better despite overall being a weaker chance creator.

“He brings a skillset that is maybe a bit more in line with what Chris Armas likes. He’s aggressive. He’s a two-way player. He has some end product. But his recovery runs are massive. He’s committed to get back into the shape. There were a few things that were going through our thought process [regarding Navarro],” Taylor said.

Gutman was in the final year of his deal, having his option for 2024 picked up. Colorado was going to have to offer him a raise to re-sign. He’s a good enough left back to be playing on an ambitious team in MLS. Navarro made $299,000 in 2023 to Gutman’s $381,250. Gutman is an inch taller at 5’10”. Navarro is guaranteed for 2024 with a club option for 2025. He acquired his green card in 2021 and will not take up an international roster slot.

Colorado acquired Gutman from Atlanta United for $400,000 in GAM, a 2023 international roster slot, and up to $150,000 in conditional GAM. On cash alone, they’ve nearly broken even on Gutman six months later and retained an MLS starting caliber left back. Transfermarkt has both their transfer values at $800,000 for what that’s worth. Forget Girl Math and Boy Math. According to Rapids Math, Navarro was free.

If Chris Armas wants more defensive fullbacks in a 4-3-3 or 4-2-2-2, this trade makes sense. If Pádraig Smith has something in the works for that GAM that upgrades the team more than Gutman to Navarro downgrades the team, this trade makes sense.

Still, it’s frustrating for fans to start the offseason after the worst year in club history with this news. Gutman was one of the most exciting players at the club. They are understandably surprised and disappointed to see him go. Maybe this trade came down to Smith cooking up a deal that he feels will make them 1% better in the aggregate while preventing the future problem of Gutman leaving for free.

Taylor confirmed to Burgundy Wave that Gutman did not demand a trade.

Navarro better be good, otherwise this move reeks of the 2021-22 offseason.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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