Revs Deal Imbongo, Castillion to Rapids

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Revolution made their first trade of the off-season Monday, as they dealt Dimitry Imbongo and Geoffrey Castillion, along with their second round pick in the 2015 SuperDraft to Colorado for reserve goalkeeper Joe Nasco and the Rapid’s 2015 SuperDraft third round pick.

Only hours after the conclusion of the MLS Cup’s final whistle, the MLS off-season began with a half-day trade window on Monday.  While the expansion squads NYCFC and Orlando City gathered the most attention building their team before this week’s expansion draft, the Revolution’s only deal saw a pair of forwards head west to Colorado.

Dimitry Imbongo has the most MLS experience of the players involved: After signing with the Revolution in July 2012, he registered 4 goals and 4 assists in 32 regular season games, while also adding a goal in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs.  However, with the emergence of Charlie Davies and others, Imbongo fell down the depth chart and only made two appearances, both as a substitute, in 2014.

The deal also ends Geoffrey Castillion’s short-lived career with the Revolution before it could get started.  Castillion, who according to MLS Players Union figures had the third highest salary on the team this season, was signed on August 25^th and made his debut as a second-half substitute on September 3^rd, his only appearance with the club.  Castillion’s departure is a disappointment as the former Ajax academy player was likely seen to hold great potential by the club based on his large salary.

However, Castillion’s time with the Rapids may end even faster than his time with the Revolution as his contract option – along with Imbongo’s – have not been exercised by Colorado.

The Revolution add Joe Nasco, a 30-year old goalkeeper who just ended his first season in the MLS.  He made four starts in the MLS with a 0-2-1 record and a 2.32 goals against average.  Despite this limited amount of time, Nasco showed promise in the NASL with the Atlanta Silverbacks, as he led the team to the 2013 Soccer Bowl and was named to the NASL Best XI.  Nasco also holds an MLS record, as he was given a red card 34 seconds into a match against the LA Galaxy, which is the fastest red card in MLS history.

Similar to Imbongo and Castillion, according to Revolution beat writer Kyle McCarthy, Joe Nasco is not expected to be in the Revolution’s plans for the 2015 season and potentially could be released, though no announcement was made as of this writing.  Alternatively, Nasco might be used as goalkeeper depth, in the event the Revolution lose a goalkeeper in the expansion draft or via another trade when the next trade window opens.

The deal benefits the Revolution by reducing the number of international players on their roster.  By dealing Imbongo and Castillion, they were left with three international players.  According to the MLS expansion draft rules, teams with four or more international players would have to protect three from the expansion draft.  Teams with three international players, however, are only restricted to protecting two international players.