Steven Buckner
@sweetbuck.bsky.social
Research Scientist. UMBC '14 graduate in physics. PhD in Atmospheric Science from Hampton U. Ozone instrument calibration and validation #Skyence
Then again, I wasn't expecting them to cut Schnegg, so who knows!
January 13, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Then again, I wasn't expecting them to cut Schnegg, so who knows!
I could see something like $250-350k being plausible, which is a much better number for being a sub/backup/spot-starter behind Herrera. I feel like if DC had the confidence that he was going to replace Herrera fully, he would have just been signed as a free agent, and wouldn't be a trialist
January 13, 2026 at 11:07 PM
I could see something like $250-350k being plausible, which is a much better number for being a sub/backup/spot-starter behind Herrera. I feel like if DC had the confidence that he was going to replace Herrera fully, he would have just been signed as a free agent, and wouldn't be a trialist
For comparison, before Servania came in as a trialist last pre-season, he made $550k base/$602k guaranteed at Toronto in '24. DC paid him $104k/$131k last year. I wouldn't expect that big of a drop for Lennon, but I can't imagine he'll be up at $740k like he was last year
January 13, 2026 at 11:07 PM
For comparison, before Servania came in as a trialist last pre-season, he made $550k base/$602k guaranteed at Toronto in '24. DC paid him $104k/$131k last year. I wouldn't expect that big of a drop for Lennon, but I can't imagine he'll be up at $740k like he was last year
I was curious and checked what Servania made at Toronto before going on trial with DC last off-season. He made $550k base, just over $600k guaranteed. We're now paying him $104k/$131k. I don't think Lennon comes down that far, but I wouldn't be surprised if we could sign him for like 250-350k
January 13, 2026 at 8:27 PM
I was curious and checked what Servania made at Toronto before going on trial with DC last off-season. He made $550k base, just over $600k guaranteed. We're now paying him $104k/$131k. I don't think Lennon comes down that far, but I wouldn't be surprised if we could sign him for like 250-350k
Yep, he used him there a lot. Wouldn't be surprised if he actually played him more as a winger than a defender when he was in charge
January 13, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Yep, he used him there a lot. Wouldn't be surprised if he actually played him more as a winger than a defender when he was in charge
I feel like if he was intended to be a Herrera replacement instead of a backup, they would have just signed him as an FA. I don't think he'll make anywhere near his 2025 number if he does sign, feels more like good depth than anything
January 13, 2026 at 5:29 PM
I feel like if he was intended to be a Herrera replacement instead of a backup, they would have just signed him as an FA. I don't think he'll make anywhere near his 2025 number if he does sign, feels more like good depth than anything
I thought the same when Kurokawa came in. Using TAM on two left backs seemed like a lot of resources committed to that one position
January 8, 2026 at 8:36 PM
I thought the same when Kurokawa came in. Using TAM on two left backs seemed like a lot of resources committed to that one position
Potentially, yeah. It's going to come down to what the exact numbers are and how long the contract is for. I admittedly don't know if there's some sort of minimum contract length that a transfer fee can be paid over or not.
January 8, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Potentially, yeah. It's going to come down to what the exact numbers are and how long the contract is for. I admittedly don't know if there's some sort of minimum contract length that a transfer fee can be paid over or not.
I think it's safe to say Sogut has largely done better so far than what most of us expected of him. Some smart draft moves, some good FA signings, some good intra-league moves. I don't expect every signing the guy makes is going to be a hit, they never are. But i hope the Cluj guys work out
January 8, 2026 at 4:53 PM
I think it's safe to say Sogut has largely done better so far than what most of us expected of him. Some smart draft moves, some good FA signings, some good intra-league moves. I don't expect every signing the guy makes is going to be a hit, they never are. But i hope the Cluj guys work out
I guess the decision comes down to if you want to be locked in to a Max-TAM player for like 5 years, or if you want to spend a DP spot for less time. Especially given Baribo and Munteanu could both be around as DPs until the 29/30 season.
January 8, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I guess the decision comes down to if you want to be locked in to a Max-TAM player for like 5 years, or if you want to spend a DP spot for less time. Especially given Baribo and Munteanu could both be around as DPs until the 29/30 season.
2025 Max TAM contract was $1,743,750. If his salary is the reported $800k and the fee is $4M, a 4.5 year contract to make him TAM seems at least doable. Other option would be to give him like a 1.5 year DP contract, and then re-sign as TAM when that first contract ends
January 8, 2026 at 4:21 PM
2025 Max TAM contract was $1,743,750. If his salary is the reported $800k and the fee is $4M, a 4.5 year contract to make him TAM seems at least doable. Other option would be to give him like a 1.5 year DP contract, and then re-sign as TAM when that first contract ends
Given that Cluj was initially reported to have wanted WAY more money for Munteanu than we ended up paying, part of me wonders if there was a sort of "cut us a deal on Munteanu and we promise we'll sign another one of your players" thing that happened
January 8, 2026 at 2:44 PM
Given that Cluj was initially reported to have wanted WAY more money for Munteanu than we ended up paying, part of me wonders if there was a sort of "cut us a deal on Munteanu and we promise we'll sign another one of your players" thing that happened
Assuming the "$800 salary" means 800k, and with a $4M fee, he'll definitely be a DP, but that salary is low enough that he could be TAM, or lower, in the future if he sees out his entire first contract and then re-signs
January 8, 2026 at 4:52 AM
Assuming the "$800 salary" means 800k, and with a $4M fee, he'll definitely be a DP, but that salary is low enough that he could be TAM, or lower, in the future if he sees out his entire first contract and then re-signs
Yeah, I've seen that now. Shouldn't change much overall, other than guaranteeing that at least one player (probably more) are gonna need to get loaned out to whatever MLSNP team we partner with
January 7, 2026 at 4:32 AM
Yeah, I've seen that now. Shouldn't change much overall, other than guaranteeing that at least one player (probably more) are gonna need to get loaned out to whatever MLSNP team we partner with
It would open up a U22 slot, but using that on a new player seems like it would be a risk. If Kim does well on loan, we all of a sudden have too many U22s and not enough spots when he comes back. That can be dealt with by selling one of them, but not sure that's a call you want to make now
January 7, 2026 at 2:21 AM
It would open up a U22 slot, but using that on a new player seems like it would be a risk. If Kim does well on loan, we all of a sudden have too many U22s and not enough spots when he comes back. That can be dealt with by selling one of them, but not sure that's a call you want to make now
I would think Avilez is all but guaranteed to get sent to whatever MLS Next Pro team we partner with. Same with Karamoko. I think murrel is probably safe with the first team
January 7, 2026 at 1:53 AM
I would think Avilez is all but guaranteed to get sent to whatever MLS Next Pro team we partner with. Same with Karamoko. I think murrel is probably safe with the first team
He was the one I was admittedly not really sure about. I was figuring that he would get signed, but I hadn't caught that he had maybe signed with the league beforehand. Doesn't change much overall, just guarantees that at least 1 supplemental player needs to get loaned out
January 7, 2026 at 1:46 AM
He was the one I was admittedly not really sure about. I was figuring that he would get signed, but I hadn't caught that he had maybe signed with the league beforehand. Doesn't change much overall, just guarantees that at least 1 supplemental player needs to get loaned out
Barring any out-bound movement, there's still 2 senior roster spots available to be filled, along with 1 DP spot and 1 international spot. The Supplemental side of the roster is already full, so any more signings there would probably require sending some players out on loan
January 6, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Barring any out-bound movement, there's still 2 senior roster spots available to be filled, along with 1 DP spot and 1 international spot. The Supplemental side of the roster is already full, so any more signings there would probably require sending some players out on loan
Reports came out yesterday that DC might be trying to get another player from Cluj as well. Meriton Korenica, a winger that is used to playing with Munteanu, that would presumably be DP #3
January 4, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Reports came out yesterday that DC might be trying to get another player from Cluj as well. Meriton Korenica, a winger that is used to playing with Munteanu, that would presumably be DP #3
Agreed. The €4 mentioned implies DP. I'm wondering if this is how we got Munteanu for the price we originally wanted. Sort of a "cut us a deal here and we'll buy a second player" or something
January 4, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Agreed. The €4 mentioned implies DP. I'm wondering if this is how we got Munteanu for the price we originally wanted. Sort of a "cut us a deal here and we'll buy a second player" or something
For giggles I just looked up the guy on EA FC (so take this with a big grain of salt) but his rating in there is currently a 68 (though that's marked as down with form). Peglow and Stroud are both 67. Though he does seem quick, with higher speed than anyone that was in DC last year
January 4, 2026 at 12:48 AM
For giggles I just looked up the guy on EA FC (so take this with a big grain of salt) but his rating in there is currently a 68 (though that's marked as down with form). Peglow and Stroud are both 67. Though he does seem quick, with higher speed than anyone that was in DC last year
There's at least some sense in getting a guy that is used to feeding the scorer we also just bought. I don't dislike the move for that. Though I guess I was wishing we got someone with a bit of a better pedigree
January 4, 2026 at 12:33 AM
There's at least some sense in getting a guy that is used to feeding the scorer we also just bought. I don't dislike the move for that. Though I guess I was wishing we got someone with a bit of a better pedigree
This seems like a big commitment with Schnegg already on the team. Do you expect any movement there, or is Kurokawa more of a backup to Schnegg and Peglow?
December 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
This seems like a big commitment with Schnegg already on the team. Do you expect any movement there, or is Kurokawa more of a backup to Schnegg and Peglow?