Colorado Rapids busy with roster moves and preseason travel preparation

With the Colorado Rapids home opener just over six weeks away, the roster is being finalized, training has officially begun and the first preseason trip of the season is about to get underway.

On Tuesday, the Rapids announced that they were tweaking their roster just a little bit more and had loaned midfielder Juan Ramírez to U.D. Almería of the Spanish second division for a temporary six month period. During his first and only season with the Rapids Ramirez appeared in 27 matches, adding a goal and three assists. His lone goal came in extra time against Real Salt Lake, which proved to be the difference in not only the game (the Rapids won 3-1) but also the battle for the Rocky Mountain Cup.

Along with the loan, the Rapids collected some general allocation money from F.C. Dallas in exchange for trading defenseman Maynor Figueroa. Rumor has it that the collected allocation money could end up going towards a Tim Howard acquisition. Figueroa came to Colorado in August of 2015 after spending the previous eight seasons playing in the English Premier League.

Just as Ramírez and Figueroa left Colorado, the Rapids were kicking off their pre-preseason training week from Dicks Sporting Good Park in Commerce City, CO. Following this week, the Rapids will head out to San Diego for some warmer weather and another 10-day series of preseason workouts.

After media day in Denver on Feb. 11, the team will travel to Tucson, Ariz. to participate in the 2016 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup Tournament. Head coach Pablo Mastroeni expects his men to bring home the cup after a runners-up finish last year. The Rapids were edged out by rival Real Salt Lake 2-1 in last year’s final.

All of this and more will take place before the Rapids officially open their season in San Jose on March 6. Colorado plays its first MLS home match of the year at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on March 12  For more information visit www.ColoradoRapids.com