McCarthy's Musings: Five MLS Trialists to Watch

By Kyle McCarthy

Forget about pitchers and catchers. What about goalkeepers and strikers?

Break out the calendars and start preparing for opening day. The all-too-brief off-season is over and weeks of fitness training and friendlies will now commence as teams around MLS open training camp over the next week or two. Training camp is at times as dreadfully boring as I made it sound in the previous sentence, but it lays the ground work for what teams accomplish during the regular season. Sometimes, training camp even gives us hacks something to write about.

The often transient world of the non-roster trialist provides one such interesting storyline. As training camp progresses, teams like to slide these trialists in and out of camp without warning. Some may stay a while before leaving, others will flame out quickly and a few might even make the team. No matter the outcome, speculating about their futures suffices as entertainment until the real action starts.

The Friday Five delves into this parlor game by picking out a few notable trialists already in camp and shining the spotlight on them as preseason swings into gear.

1. Freddy Montero (Seattle)

I'm cheating here because I want to talk about Montero and he's not really a trialist. The Colombian striker is a non-roster invitee who will likely sign a permanent deal with Sounders FC soon according to reports out of the Pacific Northwest. Montero's age (21) and resume (former top scorer in the Copa Mustang, three caps with the Colombian national team and transfer interest from Real Betis) makes him a great signing on paper for a team that needs some help on the sharp end of the pitch. Chalk one up for Seattle and MLS if this deal gets done; Montero fits the profile of the young, sought-after player MLS struggles to acquire.

2. Tony Sanneh (Los Angeles)

Sanneh is bidding for a return to MLS after a short stint in Colorado in 2007 didn't lead to a MLS deal in 2008. At 37, Sanneh's best days are well in the rear view mirror, but former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena has given him a chance to impress as the Galaxy searches for defensive help. Sanneh projects more as a central defender than a right back at this stage of his career and the Galaxy would like some depth there so Sean Franklin play right back. If Sanneh is going to continue his career, this is his last and best chance to do so in the American top-flight. The Galaxy also have Venezuelan defender Leo Bautista in camp to provide further competition.

3. Kevin Ouma (FC Dallas)

FCD evaluated Ouma at the end of last season – along with recent signing and former RSL and Columbus defender Danny Torres – and decided to bring him in again for an extended look during training camp. Ouma doesn't have much of a track record outside of stints in Kenya and Qatar and some time with the Kenyan national team. The Hoops are actively searching for some attacking reinforcements, so there's an opportunity for Ouma if he can prove his fitness and ability.

4. Reinier Alcantara (Chivas USA)

Cuban defectors have a mixed track record when it comes to making it in MLS. Alcantara will hope to follow in Maykel Galindo's successful footsteps and find a home with Chivas USA. The scouting report on him from someone who has seen him play: speedy, raw, and willing to attack players one-versus-one. That might be enough to make a team that could use another striker or two with Ante Razov's future uncertain and Galindo unable to stay off the training table.

5. Eric Brunner (New York)

Maybe the second time is the charm for Brunner in New York. After starting last season on a senior roster deal, Brunner decamped for Miami FC after New York wanted to bump him down to the developmental roster to make room for Andrew Boyens on the senior roster. Brunner joined the Red Bulls' rookie camp this week in an attempt to earn that roster spot. The catch? Miami FC has Brunner under contract for the upcoming season, so the Red Bulls might have to cough up a small transfer fee to seal any deal if he impresses enough to bolster Juan Carlos Osorio's sparse central defensive options.

Kyle McCarthy writes the Monday MLS Breakdown and frequently writes opinion pieces during the week for Goal.com. Contact him with your questions or comments at kylemccarthy@gmail.com.