After a 2023 season in which the Seattle Sounders boasted one of the top defenses in MLS, the objective over the offseason is a simple one for General Manager & Chief Soccer Officer Craig Waibel.
Speaking at the club’s end-of-season media availability last week, Waibel said attacking reinforcements will be front of mind as he evaluates how to bolster the roster that has a solid foundation in place.
“I think that's the side of the ball to talk about,” said Waibel. “I mean obviously when we set records and we have a year of top-three defensively and we have everyone returning on that side of the ball, I think it's probably a chip-shot for me to spend too much time there.”
Seattle’s 32 goals conceded were tied with Nashville SC for the best mark in MLS in 2023, but Waibel said increasing their goals scored output of 41 is a top priority, something that’s informed the club’s approach in their search for new signings.
“The plan is to start adding and start adding soon,” said Waibel. “We will be re-signing some of the players that had good seasons that started to contribute more -- some of our younger developmental players as we called them in the past that should no longer be referred to that way -- they should be referred to as expected performers. We'll be looking to re-sign some of those guys."
“And we'll be looking to add some attacking players,” he added. “We'll still respect some of the wishes of our current-roster players. With respect to them, there could be other changes on the roster. But additions are going to be in the attacking half, 100%.”
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Waibel said that a clean bill of health for striker Raúl Ruidíaz will hopefully be another avenue to increase that attacking output. The Peruvian was limited with injuries this season, but has shown to be one of the most consistent goal-scorers in the league when healthy.
“I'm unabashedly dedicated and I've said it a lot, our guys are good,” said Waibel. “And if Raúl shows up in shape with the right mentality, he's got goals in him. And I believe that.”
The end goal will be to assemble a squad that can continue Seattle’s run of being perennial trophy contenders, which Waibel said is an attainable objective with additions to an already-strong nucleus.
“We will be adding players and will be adding significant players,” said Waibel. “At least one, possibly two. This year, one of our decisions we're going to have make financially is whether or not we hold onto some of our resources for the summer, to reinforce wherever we need to, come this summer, which is something we've been challenged with over the last several years. And so there will be additions, and there's a lot of excitement and it's probably not very long until we're able to announce one of those."
“In terms of providing those players to our coaching staff, I like to be able to walk in and tell them we've added another good player and their decisions just got tougher. I joke with Brian [Schmetzer] and the other coaches all the time, if they complain about having too many good players to choose from, I sleep well.”
