Timbers offseason roundup: Two 'keepers reported, Yimmi Chara on the move?

The first bits of offseason reports are trickling in, and they involve two goalkeepers and one of Portland's DPs.

After weeks of very little news — and very much a growing consternation among the fanbase — we finally have two pieces of news around the Portland Timbers’ offseason.

The Timbers are reportedly close to bringing in two new goalkeepers to refresh the position, and are also in talks to move along one of their highest paid players in Yimmi Chara.

Let’s dive into each bit of news:

Portland set to bring in Trey Muse and James Pantemis

Tom Bogert of The Athletic, as he has been doing all offseason, broke the news on twitter this morning that Portland is lining moves to bring in a pair of goalkeepers: Trey Muse and James Pantemis.

Muse, a 24-year-old former Sounders homegrown player from Tukwila, Washington (yep, he’s crossing enemy lines!) has spent the last three seasons bouncing around the USL Championship. He made 63 combined appearances with Charleston and Memphis over the past two seasons, and 15 appearances with San Diego in 2021. Prior to that he was with the Sounders’ youth setup, spending time with Sounders 2 and the Tacoma Defiance.

Photo credit: Eric Glemser / Memphis 901 FC

He has yet to make an MLS appearance, but he appears to be a rising star within the ranks of the USL Championship.

Pantemis, 26, is somewhat more of a known entity within MLS. Most recently with CF Montreal, Pantemis entered the offseason as a free agent with 40 MLS appearances to his name. He logged his most appearances in 2021, starting 18 games for Montreal. He was also their starter down the stretch in the 2022 season, when they went on a scintillating late season run and qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Credit: Angel Marchini/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

In both reported signings, Portland fills a major position of need.

Aljaz Ivacic is no longer in the clubs’ plans, and David Bingham is currently out of contract. The early reports were that Portland was re-negotiating with Bingham, who started for the Timbers down the stretch in 2023, but his performances and age don’t exactly inspire major confidence for the future of the position.

Muse and Pantemis both represent a new start for the goalkeeper position. Pantemis comes in with MLS experience, and probably has his nose in front to be named the starter on February 24. Muse is an intriguing younger option, who has performed well at lower levels and could potentially prove to have a higher ceiling if given a chance at the higher levels.

Neither player is an established reliable MLS starter, however. So despite the new blood, questions will still linger over Portland’s ‘keepers in 2024.

Yimmi Chara set for move back to Colombia?

One of the biggest priorities for Portland this offseason was freeing up cap space, and specifically Designated Player spots to bring in more players. And now, they may be accomplishing both with one move.

Reports started bubbling out of Colombia earlier this week that Portland was in discussions with Atletico Junior over a transfer for Yimmi Chara. Yimmi spent two seasons with Atletico Junior in 2017 and 2018, so there is a familiarity between player and club.

The move is definitely in the best interest of Portland to make, but the challenge may be Yimmi’s salary. The player is still under contract, and according to the most recent MLSPA numbers, Y. Chara is owed $1.8 million in guaranteed compensation, a hefty chunk of change for a new club to take on.

And yet, if the most recent reports are to be believed, it does look like Yimmi is set to move back to Junior this winter.

Photo Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers

Getting Yimmi off the books would of course be a major move for Portland. Yimmi’s impact on the pitch has fallen off significantly over the past two seasons, and while much of that can be attributed to injury, even when healthy the player’s effectiveness wasn’t enough to lift Portland’s attack. Even before recent seasons too, Yimmi never quite lived up to the standard DPs in the league are held to, and arguably never put up the numbers to justify his price tag.

With him moving on, along with Jaroslaw Niezgoda departing the club, it would mean that Portland has two senior Designated Players spots open. That would give Ned Grabavoy, Jack Dodd, and Phil Neville maximum flexibility to bring in the high-level attacker they’ve been targeting this offseason.

The reports are just rumors at the moment, so of course we will have to wait for final confirmation. But at the moment, it appears that the Timbers offseason is finally warming up — in some significant ways.