Chicago Fire And Colorado Rapids Swap Miguel Navarro And Andrew Gutman

Within the opening few days of the MLS off-season we’ve seen a rightback swap between CF Montreal and D.C. United. Now, we have a leftback swap as well! The Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids have made a trade. The Chicago Fire have sent Miguel Navarro and $450,000 in GAM to the Rapids for Andrew Gutman. The Fire also retain a sell on percentage for Navarro if he is sold to outside of Major League Soccer. 

The Chicago Fire bring home (again?) Andrew Gutman to lock down the left side of their backline. The 27 year old has played in over 125 career games so far between MLS and the USL Championship. In those games he has scored 14 goals and assisted on another 13. He has proven to be one of the better offensive threats from the backline, even with the ability to convert to a left centerback in a back three. To me, this move feels like an upgrade right now for the Fire even though the difference isn’t that great. Gutman will bring some MLS veteran leadership to the Fire locker room and hopefully some more production from the leftback spot as well. The Fire also are securing themselves potentially in the future with the sell on percentage for Navarro.

The 24 year old Miguel Navarro has played himself into the Venezuelan national team at this point in his career. If things can keep up within MLS and he can build upon his national team career, the Fire could make out with some additional cash to Gutman as well. The Rapids get themselves a young talent with over 100 games played for the Fire in his career. During his time with the Fire, he was able to rack up 11 assists. I feel that with Chris Armas coming into Colorado and trying to build his team, this could be a very strong move. Navarro won’t shatter the top of the MLS fullback charts, but he could be a strong young piece for the rebuild of a bad Rapids side.