Was Orlando City Trying to Trade Brek Shea?

The MLS early-season transfer window closed last night, and Orlando City creeped into the finish line quietly like just about every other team in the league.

But does that mean the Lions weren’t working anything behind the scenes?

According to a pair of tweets from two ESPN writers, including the network’s MLS color man Taylor Twellman, it sounds like the Lions might have been speaking to other clubs about moving a certain U.S. Men’s National Team fullback.

Now, I don’t know about you, but this is the first time any of us here at The Mane Land have heard anything about Orlando City moving Brek Shea. However, that doesn’t mean the gossip is all that crazy. Of course, if it hasn’t happened by now, it’s certainly not likely that it’s going to happen any time soon now that the trade window has closed for the next couple of months.

Orlando City just recently traded center back Aurelien Collin to the New York Red Bulls, and while that did clear up some cap space and an international slot, it does leave the club’s back line a little thin right now. Trading Shea and his $520,000 salary, according to the most recent figures released by the MLS Players’ Association, would do more harm than good in the meantime, considering how little fullback depth the club is currently playing with — outside of Shea and Rafael Ramos, Kevin Alston and Luke Boden are the only other fullbacks on the roster. The club does has Tyler Turner playing with OCB, but he’s not quite ready to be an MLS regular still.

And as much as the idea makes sense — clearing the cap space of an expensive defender that some could say has underperformed since joining Orlando City — the timing wouldn’t have been ideal, rather it be smart to wait until the summer window when they can bring in reinforcements and wait to use that spare cash for a bigger signing.

Long story short: Brek Shea isn’t going anywhere — at least not yet.

UPDATE:

[Editor’s note: Christian Bruey is a well-connected television journalist who confirms that the club engaged in discussions about Shea. We have a lot of respect for his work and we trust he has solid sources. The fact that none of the offers enticed Orlando City to pull the trigger is probably best for the club at this time, since there isn’t currently a better option on the roster and there’s generally precious little available at the MLS deadline.]