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With the offseason finally upon us - or at least, so it seems after Ching's testimonial - the Houston Dynamo have dipped into the market in order to fulfill a need. With the departure of Bobby Boswell to D.C. United via the first round of the Re-entry Draft last week, the Dynamo's already dire need for help on the backline got even bigger. Tuesday, Chris Canetti and the Dynamo front office made a move to address this problem, sending a fourth round pick to the Portland Timbers in exchange for the rights to centerback David Horst.
The Timbers had declined Horst's option, making him eligible for the Re-entry draft, but still held his rights, making this trade possible. As he went unpicked throughout the first stage, the Dynamo will be able to negotiate a new contract with him, making it likely that we will indeed see him in orange.
The 14th pick in the 2008 Superdraft (by RSL), Horst's playing career has seen several instances where he's had career-changing events against an orange backdrop. The pick that RSL used on him was originally in the hands of the Dynamo. His professional debut came later that year, at Robertson Stadium. Selected by the Timbers in the 2010 Expansion Draft, he was injured earlier this season in the Dynamo's match at Jeld-Wen Field. Such coincidences may not be related, but it looks like Horst will get a chance to make more career defining moments in connection with the Dynamo.
Though he's only played in 42 league matches, he has plenty of experience at many levels. He won a USSF title with the Puerto Rico Islanders in 2010 and saw CCL action with them that year as well. He's also played in several US Open Cups, though he was on loan in Austin when RSL won the '09 MLS Cup.
Horst, if signed, looks to be a third CB, playing behind Jermaine Taylor and Eric Brunner. Though the Dynamo won't have the added workload of a CCL schedule (and Taylor's Jamaica will not be playing int he World Cup next summer), the depth that his signing would provide would still be instrumental. We saw it this season - freak circumstances occur, and having capable hands ready to step up is important if you want to get far. I think that David Horst can be one of those capable hands. Now, it's up to the front office to sign him.