Sam Vines Buyout: What Could Have Been and What it Means to be a Rapids Homegrown

Editorial – The Colorado Rapids announced on February 21 that they decided to waive Homegrown, Sam Vines and exercised an offseason buyout after a disappointing return to the Burgundy and Blue for Vines. At time of publishing, he has cleared waivers and has not signed anywhere. Sources tell Burgundy Wave his house is up for sale.

There’s no doubt that Vines was one of the most impressive and promising Rapids Homegrowns that has been produced following the 2021 MLS season. The Colorado Springs native was a major part of Colorado’s historic 2021 season, a season that earned Vines a move to Belgian giant, Royal Antwerp FC. In 2019, Vines made 23 starts among 26 matches, playing 90 minutes in 18 out of 19 games for the Rapids. 

Rapids Homegrown to Vines Back, to Europe:

Vines joined Royal Antwerp in 2021. He had a decent stint, barring his tibia injury and somehow being left off of the UEFA Champions League roster due to an administrative error. One source told Burgundy Wave it wasn’t so accidental and was a breaking point in the relationship between player and club/manager. In any case, the player put it behind him.

In two and a half years, he made 58 appearances, all competitions. He recorded 2 goals and 2 assists. They were Belgian Pro League Champions in 2022-23 and Belgian Super Cup winners the following July. The Super Cup is the Belgian equivalent of the Community Shield.

He was a regular starter in the 2022-23 championship season, but missed the second half run due to the tibia injury. He was a 71st minute sub in the Super Cup. Antwerp won in penalties 5-4 despite Vines missing the first kick of the shootout.

In another world, he stays healthy and gets along with a coach and is a regular starter there. He gets minutes in Europe when Antwerp qualifies. Maybe he’s a bench player for the USMNT.

In 2024, the Homegrown returned back to the club hoping to make the same impact as 2021. Unfortunately, Vines never really returned to where he had been. The Rapids Homegrown slowly regressed over the last two years. Armas playing a back four didn’t help tactically.

Under Chris Armas, Vines was decent at times, but had competition for places. With the signing of Rafeal Santos in 2024, Vines saw less minutes, and with the manager change this year it seems Vines didn’t see a way into the lineup. 

Good luck, Sam. Hope things work out. Hope you go somewhere you can be a wing back. Hope you find some joy and rediscover your 2021 form. You’ll always be a Coloradan.

Read More: There’s Center Backs. There’s Left Backs. And Then There’s Vines Back.

Steering away from Homegrowns?

New head coach Matt Wells brings a new system, new ideas, and a seemingly cutthroat attitude during preseason. Wells hopes to bring an aggressive, pressing, and proactive style to the Rockies. A style he hopes will create high intensity and relentless attacking threat. 

The Rapids front office have caught the attention of fans, ushering in what seems to be a new era. 

The departures of Oli Larraz, Cole Bassett, and now Sam Vines points to a re-direction in Rapids identity. Are the days of exciting Colorado youth and the Homegrown mindset fleeting under Wells? 

Colorado has historically leaned on the academy and development pipeline. They prided themselves in developing elite youth talent. Bassett rose through the academy and became one of the most successful Homegrowns in club history. The Rapids focused more on development, rather than immediate tactical fit and success. 

Oli Larraz did the similar and became a key player under Armas’ midfield. Vines progressed through just the same, becoming a key starter and earned a move to Europe. All three left the club after Wells’ appointment.

This is a pivot. A club that relied on Homegrown roots, development, and talent seems to be shifting into a club built on tactical fit and competition. 

“Everyone’s had the chance to earn their shirts and make the right impression. Jackson (Travis) had an incredible preseason. Miguel (Navarro) came through the door. I only want two players at left back. That contributed to the decision. I need to create an environment here where there is no hierarchy,” Wells told Burgundy Wave of the transfer.

“I came in to make decision. This is a period of changes for the club.”

The word impression and hierarchy are key there. Perhaps Vines had a poor first preseason or did not establish a relationship with the new manager. Wells has thrown down the gauntlet. There are no sacred cows.

The club has signed players like Miguel Navarro, Hamzat Ojeridian, Lucas Herrington, and Dante Sealy. Players that Wells and the FO believe will be an immediate fit and bring success. The offseason signals the Rapids may not be relying on developmental continuity any longer. Homegrowns need to fit the culture and game model. Wells felt the midfield would be strong without Larraz and Bassett. He saw Bassett as redundant to Paxten Aaronson. Fair enough.

Darren Yapi is the one Colorado native Homegrown left on the roster. Yapi had a breakout year last season and is trending towards a big year, but even he isn’t guaranteed anything. Only time will tell what his role becomes in 2026. 

Of course in today’s MLS, a roster always demands improvements, but it’s a clear change in how the Rapids have approached roster rebuilds prior to Wells. 

The Rapids Community has romanticized the Colorado native. The hometown kids come good. They know what the club means to the fans. There’s a bond and understanding there. Those players have a bond with the fanbase. If the Rapids are abandoning that fine. But they better win. If we’re going to miss the playoffs, at least do it with Colorado players instead of a rotating cast of mercenaries.

As the Rapids enter the 2026 season, fans expect signings, change, and a clear improvement in terms of playoffs and competitiveness. An eyebrow raising offseason signals the Rapids are headed in a different direction that makes Homegrowns less sentimental. There is no Homegrown “hierarchy.” They need to make an “impression” same as everyone.

With so many questions for the Rapids in 2026, one of the big ones will be if this identity shift results in success. 

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