From Deseret News archives:
Real Salt Lake: Seattle selects Sturgis in draft
The expansion Seattle Sounders franchise is banking on the fact he can stay healthy. Seattle plucked Sturgis away from Real Salt Lake in Wednesday's expansion draft, one of 10 players it selected from around the league.
"It sucks to lose Nate Sturgis, but I also think it would've hurt to lose Dema (Kovalenko), Ian (Joy), Clint Mathis or our other established veteran players," said RSL general manager Garth Lagerwey.
Since being acquired from the L.A. Galaxy in a trade in June 2007, Sturgis played in eight total games for RSL out of a possible 45. Salt Lake's coaching staff wavered on whether to make Sturgis one of its 11 protected players instead of Nick Rimando up until Monday's league-imposed deadline. They ultimately decided to protect Rimando, a player who started 30 games in 2008 instead of Sturgis, who started two games.
"It's tough to tell because he hasn't been consistently healthy," said Lagerwey when asked about Sturgis' upside. "I think he has some real good potential. He can be a regular starter if he keeps himself healthy."
If Seattle can find a way to keep him healthy, the St. Augustine, Fla., native could be a starter for years to come for the Sounders.
Lagerwey said selecting Sturgis fits the mold of the approach Seattle took with the expansion draft. Instead of using its deep pocket of allocation money to go after available veterans, it went with mostly young, cheaper talent.
The nine other players Seattle selected were Nate Jaqua (Houston), Jeff Parke (New York), Jarrod Smith (Toronto), Khano Smith (New England), Peter Vagenas (L.A. Galaxy), Tyson Wahl (Kansas City), James Riley (San Jose), Stephen King (Chicago) and Brad Evans (Columbus).
Looking ahead to the offseason, Lagerwey said one of the club's biggest priorities is finding an attacking player.
"We tried a dozen different combinations up top, but we've got to find a pairing that can play game in and game out at a consistent level," said Lagerwey.
That means that forwards like Kenny Deuchar, Fabian Espindola, Yura Movsisyan and Robbie Findley can expect to find even more competition next year.
Lagerwey said he'd also like to see the team find an additional quality left-footed player.
E-mail: jedward@desnews.com
Recent comments
I wouldn't say "no one cares". I think there are a ton of us that...
Re: Geez | Dec. 3, 2008 at 1:59 p.m.
I guess no one cares about RSL once the season is over. I wish we...
Geez | Dec. 3, 2008 at 11:10 a.m.
i'm suprised you didn't ask about the participation trophies and...
re:why didn't | Dec. 1, 2008 at 3:42 p.m.
- Candles can solve problems 4:48 p.m.
- Bloc calls for civilian rule in Guinea 4:41 p.m.
- Co. recalling 22,723 pounds of beef 4:39 p.m.
- Dems urged to pass health care bill 4:35 p.m.
- The natural beauty of a wreath 4:26 p.m.
- 4 detained in Russian club fire 4:15 p.m.
- A.F., Houston in Armed Forces Bowl 4:08 p.m.
- Museum claims it owns a Titian 4:03 p.m.
- BYU and Utah's bowl games 3:54 p.m.
- Saints stay perfect, beat Redskins 3:31 p.m.
- Y., U. to learn bowl destinations
- The forgotten ship: USS Utah
- Utahns want health care reform bills
- BYU professor killed in crash
- BYU basketball: Cougars crush Dons
- Tiger's SUV, personal life are a wreck
- Branch president without a congregation
- Jazz upset by Wolves
- Kurt Bestor: Joy for the world
- Urn of baby rests with sailors
- Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
314 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
254 - Y. profs: Beck not all-knowing
209 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
189 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
130 - George lost in rivalry hatefest
113 - Unbeaten BYU takes trip to Logan
105 - Harpring's NBA career is over
95 - Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
94
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting (perhaps speculating) that Utah...
I got some e-mail from Aggie fans regarding a column I wrote last week...
FYI, if you google Kurt Bestor, you'll discover he's gone the way of so many...
dont do it. Obama represents socialism in all its faded glory...
in sunny San Diego
My friend you are wrong, yes the number one team is locked into that bowl but...
in LV bowl (and buffet lines)
SORRY UTES MY MISTAKE, BYU-26-UGUYS23.
yea the utes think that they rule in bowl games but have lost to byu 3 out of...
Oregon State is going to be tough. They're currently ranked in the mid-teens:...
Actually, they are not locked into anyone. They just get the first pick....
The only things the U.N. see, are money and power!



