Revs Ink Shalrie to DP Deal

Revolution fans can finally exhale.

In a surprise announcement made during the team’s 2012-13 jersey unveiling at the Gillette Stadium Pro Shop on Saturday, Revolution President Brian Bilello confirmed that club captain Shalrie Joseph had been re-signed. According to a tweet from Boston Herald reporter Kyle McCarthy, the deal will classify the Grenadian center half as a Designated Player for the 2012 season.

With the new pact in place, the team actually saves $165,000 in allocation money. The terms of Joseph’s previous contract necessitated the Revolution to buy down his salary figure, which was listed at $500,000 according to the MLS Players Union. Joseph’s 2012 salary figure has not been released, although it is reportedly higher than the 2011 figure.

Joseph, who has spent his entire MLS career with the Revolution after the team selected him in the second round of the 2002 SuperDraft, was all smiles at the event as the deal officially ended months of speculation about his future in New England. At various points during the 2011 season, Joseph appeared ambivalent about his intentions for 2012.

In August, Joseph issued a cryptic tweet after the club signed Argentine striker Milton Caraglio to a designated-player deal.

“My heart skip a beat when I just read the news. I know I won’t be back next year so am just happy to give it all this year..” Joseph told former Galaxy midfielder and current Fox Soccer Channel analyst Kyle Martino via Twitter.

Shortly thereafter, Joseph publicly stated his desire to stay with the Revolution. But later in the season, Joseph, who’s never been one to hide his emotions, seemed to reneg on his desire to stay in New England.

In October, with then-Revolution manager Steve Nicol on the hot seat amid the team’s poor form, Joseph told The Boston Globe that he wouldn’t re-sign if Nicol wasn’t retained.

“I don’t want to be back if Stevie isn’t coming back, to be honest about it,” Joseph said.

After Nicol and the club parted ways days following the conclusion of the season, Joseph re-stated his desire to remain with the Revolution, even though the only man who ever managed him in MLS was gone.

“I want to stay,” Joseph said. “I like being here and hopefully we can get it done (so) I’ll be here (for next year).”

Although the club said little in terms of their negotiations with Joseph, the prevailing thought around Gillette Stadium was that a deal was imminent. On Wednesday, General Manager Michael Burns told MLSSoccer.com that he believed Joseph – along with Matt Reis, who would re-sign with the Revolution on Thursday – would be back.

“We’re very optimistic that (Reis and Joseph) are going to return and going to be playing for the Revs next year,” Burns said. “We’re working diligently to get that done. We’re hoping to announce something officially here in the near future. They’ve both been longstanding members of the Revs. We’re going to what we can to have them remain in Revolution jerseys next year.”

Now, with Joseph officially set to return for 2012, the Revolution can re-focus their energies on surrounding their captain with the talent needed to return to the playoffs.

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