Sounders

Reporters just held a 20-minute conference call with Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer to discuss Tuesday’s trade for Shalrie Joseph and other matters. Here were some highlights from my Twitter account:

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GM Adrian Hanauer said having Joseph be a DP was effectively the only way to get the deal done.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

Hanauer said the Sounders still have the ability to buy out a player before the season starts. Christian Tiffert?

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

As part of this deal, the Sounders are absorbing some of the salary cap charge and Chivas USA is holding some of the salary cap charge, too.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

Hanauer said getting the No. 3 spot in the allocation process allows the team to more aggressively pursue a USMNT player playing abroad.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

“We’ve always liked Shalrie,” Hanauer said when asked if Schmid was bluffing a bit a couple weeks ago about a deal not likely getting done.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

Hanauer reiterates commitment of going out and getting a game-changer DP. Said that hasn’t changed, but those players aren’t easy to get.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

“Sometimes good things take time,” Hanauer said of the Sounders’ DP hunt.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

Hanauer said there’s a high likelihood that Djimi Traore will sign. There you go.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

Hanauer said the team is also highly interested in acquiring a DP forward, hints again that a DP could be bought out in the next few weeks

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

Hanauer said Javier Saviola is a fantastic player that they’d love to have, but that he’s on another team’s discovery list. No progress yet.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013

Hanauer makes a note of clarifying at the end of the call that the Sounders got two picks in the deal, didn’t give up any picks.

— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) February 19, 2013