ST. LOUIS -- In one short hour at the MLS SuperDraft, Trader Mo became Trader No.
Much to the surprise of everyone here, Toronto FC did not make a single trade before the festivities began and in fact kept all three of their first-round picks.
The right deal simply wasn't there. But both Johnston and head coach John Carver were stunned and delighted that they were able to get the three players they coveted. The consensus was that Wake Forest midfielder Sam Cronin was the one outfield player mature enough to step into MLS and play immediately. He came to St. Louis sporting a nasty upper-lip cut to the tune of ten stitches thanks to a combine scrimmage collision.
Up next was Toronto resident O'Brian White. Despite recovering from a torn ACL which will sideline him until after the season begins, the striker was so highly regarded the Reds felt they had to grab him with the No. 4 pick or lose him. They like to promote him as Canadian, and indeed White calls Toronto home. That's where he's lived since his high school days. But make no mistake, he's Jamaican. He told me straight up his international career lies with the Reggae Boyz.
Then there's the curious case of goalkeeper Stefan Frei. He was named MVP of the college combine earlier in the week. Scouts, agents and coaches told me in Florida he could step in and play right away. So Johnston and Carver were licking their chops when he was still available at No. 13. It’s unclear why he was still on the board. Maybe every other team felt they were well covered at that position. Not from what I saw last season. Anyway, Frei is of Swiss background and is indeed a second-cousin of Swiss international Alexander Frei.
Note to Greg Sutton and Brian Edwards: Both Johnston and Carver claim Frei will push them for the No. 1 spot. That should be fun to watch. History tells us Carver is not afraid to start the season with a rookie between the posts.
And finally, two more nuggets from Johnston: He says he's got a South American striker "90 per cent locked up." (We've seen that movie before) And for the first time that I know of, he said on camera that they are indeed re-negotiating the contract of Dwayne De Rosario and that everything is in order.
Full draft coverage, everything Johnston had to say, comments from the drafted players, as well as a sit-down interview with MLS commissioner Don Garber on Soccercentral this Saturday.
Camp starts in just over two weeks ... can't wait!
