Honey Badger nabs sweet new deal

With one swift swing of the hammer — or signing of a check if you’re not into metaphors — the Seattle Sounders FC (likely) answered three of my big off-season questions.

• How long will Osvaldo Alonso remain a Sounder
• Will Eddie Johnson be back in Rave Green next season
• Will Mauro Rosales return to the club

After announcing that the Honey Badger — AKA Alonso — had been resigned to a new contract making him the third Designated Player, the answer to those questions will most likely be

• For the foreseeable future
• Probably not since now there’s not a DP slot for him and he wants a DP salary
• If he wants to take a big pay cut — if not he’s likely back home in Argentina

The Sounders have signed Osvaldo Alonso to a new deal that makes him a designated player. http://t.co/JEjyOwooFx

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers)

The Sounders' three DPs are Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Alonso. Mauro Rosales could still come back, but he would no longer be a DP.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers)

Honestly though, the most surprising of these answers is the only actual news of the day. No Sounders fan can argue that Alonso deserves to be paid a DP salary, but many question if it was necessary to keep him around. Ozzie comes from a humble background and he is very grateful to be in his current situation — meaning he might have stayed for a less-than-DP salary. But after winning his fourth straight team MVP yesterday, Alonso has once again proved that he is the engine of this club.

Pay the man, because he’s earned his due tenfold.

This move, coupled with the announcement that coach Sigi Schmid will return next season, has set a precedent that the front office of SSFC wants to move quickly in this short MLS off-season. With that in mind, keep an eye out for other possible moves to be announced in the very near future. These include the fate of Eddie Johnson, if Clint Dempsey or Brad Evans will be loaded to a European club for the off-season and how the odd tale of Obafemi Martins will play out — I still don’t see anything here by the way, but with that said I would’t be shocked if a move was made to transfer the suddenly unfulfilled striker.

For today though, it’s all congratulations to Alonso — a well deserving Designated Player for the Seattle Sounders FC