Examining the LA Galaxy's 2023 roster decisions
What to make of the LA Galaxy's first major roster moves heading into 2024
On Friday afternoon, the LA Galaxy announced their end-of-the-season roster moves and current roster ahead of the 2024 campaign. Multiple players had their club options picked up for next season or declined.
Here is the current roster:
2024 LA Galaxy Roster, as of Nov. 10, 2023
Goalkeepers (2): Jonathan Bond, Novak Mićović
Defenders (9): Julián Aude, Martín Cáceres, Mauricio Cuevas, Raheem Edwards, Marcus Ferkranus, Chris Mavinga, Jalen Neal, Maya Yoshida, Eriq Zavaleta
Midfielders (8): Daniel Aguirre, Gastón Brugman, Edwin Cerrillo, Mark Delgado, Diego Fagundez, Jonathan Pérez, Riqui Puig, Gino Vivi
Forwards (2): Dejan Joveljić, Preston Judd
Aguirre, Vivi, and Judd had their options picked up for 2024. According to Corner of the Galaxy, Caceres signed a contract for the ‘24 season at the start of the previous campaign. Goalkeeper Jonathan Klinsmann, defenders Tony Alfaro and Kelvin Leerdam, midfielder Uri Rosell and forward Billy Sharp had their options declined.
As The Galactic Tribune first reported, the LA Galaxy did not pick up Calegari’s purchase option for him to stay in LA after the end of his loan from Fluminense FC. However, LA did pick up the purchase option on goalkeeper Novak Mićović who will stay for next season.
Tyler Boyd, one of LA’s best performers last season, is still negotiating with the LA Galaxy. The 28-year-old recorded seven goals and four assists in 34 games last season. Here are three things that stand out from the first major off-season announcements.
All in for a Striker
LA let go of Sharp after scoring six goals in 711 minutes in MLS play. The 38-year-old forward proved to still have that scoring instinct and his experience in the sport was valuable to the locker room. His departure from LA indicates that the Galaxy will be in the market for a Designated Player striker.
Joveljic remains with the team but his ‘23 season tanked his stock with just six goals in 32 games. He’s likely not going to be starting next season as LA will look to add a DP-caliber striker to their front line.
LA has been the home of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez in recent years. The club will likely target a big-name target to keep their tradition of “Galactico” signings.
Having just Joveljic and Judd won’t be enough to become an MLS Cup contender. It won’t be surprising to see LA spend big this winter at that position. Coach Greg Vanney will get to choose his preferred striker now that LA is without Chicharito and transfer restrictions. LA lacked a consistent forward last year and it ultimately was part of why the team underperformed in front of the goal last season.
More Defensive Questions
The Galaxy’s decision to not keep Calegari - the team’s Defender of the Year- is a bold move but makes sense. With an ACL injury, the recovery time is long and the Brazilian would likely appear until the midway point of the season. With Calegari gone LA opens up a U22 initiative spot on the roster.
This allows LA to stay in the market for a player to invest in on the defensive side to replace Calegari. Given that LA was prepared for the departure of Julian Araujo last winter, the club already has a list of names that could fill in at right back. At the moment, Mauricio Cuevas is the only right back on the team.
The club’s center backs remain a heavy investment given that Caceres will return for the 2024 campaign. According to the MLSPA Salary Guide, the Uruguayan made $556,671.00 last season. His season ended early due to an avulsion fracture in his left knee sustained in June.
The addition of Yoshida later in the year gave LA another defender with tons of experience. It seemed like the Japanese defender was primed to replace Caceres given their similar profiles but the pair look set to be teammates once again. Yoshida made $893,334.00 in 2023 according to the MLSPA - the highest salary for any LA Galaxy defender.
If Caceres is making a similar salary to this season, LA will have a pair of center backs that cost over $1.2 million. The Galaxy also have Chris Mavinga, Jalen Neal, and Eriq Zavaleta in that same position for less money (Marcus Ferkranus has yet to play an MLS minute).
MLS is a salary cap league and spending wisely is the name of the game. If LA needed to get more cap space, the club would have to tinker with the idea of trading away or buying out a defender. It would be a hard decision to make but LA is playing it risky by giving decent sums of money to a pair of defenders over the age of 35.
A Busy Winter
LA has two open DP spots and one U22 initiative roster to bolster its roster. Talks of adding another DP spot or more roster leeway have grown since the arrival of Lionel Messi to MLS this summer - the Galaxy would be huge benefactors if these rumors came to fruition.
Riqui Puig is now the franchise player in LA, the player you build around for now and the future. He’s one of the most talented players in the league at a position that’s vital for success in MLS.
We already talked about LA’s need for a new striker but they could also be on the market for a new winger. The departure of Douglas Costa means that LA depth out wide is still very shallow while Boyd’s future remains uncertain. The Galaxy would likely spend big at this position and have their depth ready at the start of this season.
Don’t be surprised to hear many transfer rumors as the Galaxy will have holes to fill. Vanney made it clear he wants this team built as soon as possible and not have to fit guys into the system during the season.
This is an important offseason for Vanney and the year where the club needs to elevate into at least being a lock for the MLS Cup Playoffs. Since the turn of the decade, there has never been a moment like this for LA to truly build a good core.
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