Portland Timbers revamp roster for title defense

As all Major League Soccer clubs face a retooling offseason, the spotlight is shining brightly on the champion Portland Timbers. After besting the Columbus Crew a short seven weeks ago, Portland owner Merritt Paulson had to rein in the celebratory break and pull an abrupt “about-face”, shifting focus to team needs going into next season.

When the Timbers entered the league in 2011, its roster consisted of players such as newly acquired Jack “The Bean” Jewsbury, first franchise draft pick Darlington Nagbe, and midfielder Rodney Wallace, the man responsible for Portland’s cup-winning goal on Dec. 6. As with the clubs left behind in the wake of their historic postseason run, the roster must keep advancing, phasing out aged contracts with fresh draft picks and new chemistry. The Timbers’ interest in Wallace, as an example, extended beyond last season; however, he thought it best to allow his contract to expire and explore international options.

Instrumental outside defender Jorge Villafana’s rights were sold to Santos Laguna of Liga MX, briefly creating another hole to fill. Paulson didn’t sit idly by, trading for Villafana’s replacement, Chris Klute, that same day. The 25 year-old Klute came over from Columbus, the very club the Timbers dispatched in the title game, for allocation money. Zarek Valentin, 24, was then acquired from the Montreal Impact in exchange for an international roster slot the club can use next season.

Other notable team subtractions are former captain Will Johnson (traded to Toronto FC) and forward Maximiliano Urutti (whose option was declined, and who consequently was selected first overall by FC Dallas in the 2015 MLS Re-Entry Draft). Perhaps the biggest free agent splash the Timbers made was signing Jack McInerney away from – you guessed it – Columbus, having spent only half a season with the Crew. “Jack Mac” entered the league straight out of high school in 2010 and ranks second in MLS history in scoring by the age of 23, with 36 goals. A gifted offensive talent like McInerney should pair well with the Timbers’ top striker, Fanendo Adi, next year.

Portland didn’t limit its overhaul to trades and free agent signings. The Timbers had the No. 20 overall pick in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft, and with it selected Ben Polk out of Syracuse University. Polk tallied 12 goals in 22 games with the Orange last season, and should provide immediate depth for the reigning champs. Twenty picks later, the Timbers drafted another forward, Neco Brett out of Robert Morris University, with the feeling that he was the best player on the board at the time, according to head coach Caleb Porter. Portland plans on sending Brett to its T2 squad in 2016,  its “younger brother” team of sorts in the United Soccer League, where he’ll play the wing and compete for a potential spot with the big club.

The Timbers are banking on this revamped squad meshing well and carrying on the torch from last season. If the team chemistry plays like the Oregon Symphony at downtown’s Schnitzer Hall, they just might have a shot at a successful 2016 title defense.