The 2025 Off-Season To-Do List: Part 2 (Flush With Cash and Where To Spend It)
On a sunny Saturday afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, Inter Miami defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps to win their first MLS Cup. The 2025 MLS season has officially ended. A slew of offseason events are around the corner, so it's a perfect time to explore potential additions to the Portland Timbers. However, they might have made their biggest addition on Tuesday.
A New Kit Sponsor
For the first time ever, Bank of America will become a jersey sponsor. That previous statement doesn't just apply to MLS teams. As the wider sports world began to add uniform sponsorships of their own (the NBA, MLB, and NHL joined the trend since the COVID-19 pandemic began) it made sense for major companies to jump at the opportunity to place their logos in highly-visible areas across the sporting landscape. Bank of America already has given their name to a stadium (the home of the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC), a NASCAR race (hell yeah brother), and two famous marathons (Boston and Chicago).
Bank of America is the second-largest bank in the country measured by total assets ($3.34 TRILLION, per the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council). With the immense power that they hold as a major financial institution, any team in the country would be foaming at the mouth to have their logo on a jersey. However, the Portland Timbers have been able to secure a “multi-year” deal with Bank of America to become their new kit sponsor.
I'll get to the specifics of the deal later. The first thing that matters is the reaction.
The Boy Who Cried “Cheese!”
Tillamook is beloved by Oregon, and therefore the entire country. When the DaBella sponsorship deal (predictably) blew up in the Timbers’ face, it was almost serendipitous to see Tillamook revealed as the replacement prior to the May 12, 2024 game against Seattle. After years of proudly wearing Alaska Airlines on their chest (still the best airline in the country), Timbers fans became just as attached to the kit sponsor as the badge above it. Fans were so thrilled to experience the Tillamook reveal that a spontaneous “Cheese!” chant arose from the North End during the national anthem of that Seattle game; mere minutes after the deal was announced with a smiling Diego Chara wearing a Tillamook jersey flashing on the video board.
For my own selfish purposes, I tried to use my platform to get Tillamook to bring back their best ice cream flavor: Fireside S'mores. That never came to fruition, but I'll be damned if I don't stop trying. Campfire Peanut Butter Cup? No. Simply no.
On a soccer jersey, the sponsor is larger than the badge. It is the most visible part of the uniform. Therefore, having a sense of pride in the sponsor is a pretty important part of choosing to buy a jersey. Many people didn't want to buy a DaBella shirt, but the Tillamook jerseys flew off the shelves. However, this new deal isn't putting the Morning Star in the harbor.
The Timbers haven't had a sleeve sponsor since TikTok adorned their jerseys in the early 2020s. As a part of this new deal, Tillamook has moved to the sleeve. It's not the front of the jersey, sure, but it's still taking up real estate.
Bank of America is a bank. That might seem obvious from the name of the company. Banks are not very popular with the American public. Many choose to store their savings in credit unions, investment accounts, or in bars of gold buried in the ground (Ron Swanson). Some people aren't thrilled with this sponsorship deal simply because it's a bank. That's understandable, but getting mad at this deal is missing the point of the sponsorship entirely.
In the common fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” a village of people routinely respond to one child's routine calls that a wolf is coming for their farm animals. They react in terror over and over again, yet the wolf never comes. Eventually, they ignore the boy's call. Once they ignore the call, the wolf actually shows up and eats all their livestock.
There are serious things to get upset about. Wasting your time and energy getting mad about the new kit sponsor is, well, a waste of time. This is an outstanding deal for the club. It does hurt to see Tillamook (partially) sidelined, but Bank of America can provide far more capital than a local creamery. And in the modern world of sports, an influx of BANK money can be a major driver of growth on the sporting side. Merritt Paulson (pausing for boos) said as much on Tuesday. “We’ve got to spend to compete, and that’s becoming more and more the case as the product gets better.”
Being a fan of any sports team is never easy. There are always things to get upset about. But this deal is not something to “cry wolf” about. Sure, I'd prefer if the word mark on the jerseys didn't exist (their logo is recognizable enough by itself to stand alone) but that's a nit-pick as opposed to a flat-out condemnation. Any outrage looks even more silly when the community engagement aspect of the sponsorship enters the picture.
Investing in Portland
Bank of America is also pledging their funds to the community of Portland (and those tax-evaders in Southwest Washington). There are two avenues where this will play out: increasing access to soccer for children and supporting small businesses.
Let’s begin with the equitable youth sports initiative.
All of these are good. Creating more opportunities for children to play sports is always a great use of money. I have nothing further to add. This speaks for itself.
The small business initiatives are also very cool.
It isn’t amazing to see a local company sidelined for a national behemoth. But Bank of America has decided to use their resources to strengthen the community that they have chosen to represent.
A Contract Extension
Academy goalkeeper Hunter Sulte has been signed to a new contract extension through the end of the 2027-28 season. The two-and-a-half year deal (with a club option for 2028-29) will not seriously impact Portland’s salary cap and provides the platform for Sulte to compete for the backup job behind James Pantemis.
In terms of numbers, I expect this deal to fall into the Reserve Minimum Salary range. In 2025, that number was $80,622. The salary cap is increasing next year, so that number will rise in accordance with the new budget charges. Check back in early February to see the actual amount. As of right now, it’s inconsequential because both “Minimum Salary” designations (Senior and Reserve) do not affect the salary cap.
The more interesting part of the deal (at least for me) is the first instance of a new contract extension being affected by the schedule change. Since the extra 6-month “kicker” is now established for any players looking to sign new deals this offseason, I wonder if it’ll have a serious impact on contract negotiations.
Free Agents
There are a lot of players that will be signing new contracts this offseason because they are free agents. The MLS free agent market is a great place to look for additions. Not only do good players reach free agency more often than they used to, but those players are experienced in the various challenges from playing in MLS. This free agent class is pretty loaded, and there are several players that the Timbers should be interested in.
Cristian Espinoza (ARG, RW, San Jose, Age 30)
2025 stats (all competitions): 33 games, 4g/8a
If there was one player that could reach “Golden Goose” status in this free agent group, Espinoza checks all the boxes. San Jose (ludicrously) couldn’t come to terms on a new deal with their best player over the past six years. That’s what Espinoza has been since his arrival in 2019. An elite creator from the right side, Espinoza provides all types of service for his teammates.
The Timbers struggled with providing service last season. Espinoza single-handedly would upgrade their ability to feed their strikers. The only drawback is the potential price. Portland does not have a DP slot open, and they’d likely need one to bring Espinoza to the club. That can be solved with a buyout of Jonathan Rodriguez, but it’s unclear if that’s the step that the front office wants to take at this moment in time. If they were inclined to use a buyout, Espinoza would be a perfect fit for the Timbers. He’d be a perfect fit for any team in the league, but the Timbers’ creation problems and their need for a quality cross-spammer could push them to the front of the line.
Oliver Larraz (USA, CM/DM, Colorado, Age 24)
2025 stats (all competitions): 38 games, 0g/3a
Per Colorado’s end-of-year roster decisions, they were still in negotiations with their homegrown midfielder. However, I see an opportunity for the Timbers to grab a younger replacement for Cristhian Paredes.
The 24-year-old was a consistent starter for the past two years for the Rapids. During that time, he showcased his talent as a box-to-box midfielder. Whenever he featured for Colorado, he regularly broke into attacking areas and delivered final passes. In addition, his defensive work was outstanding. He’s comfortable on the ball and has the necessary motor to cover a lot of ground. In short, that is a similar profile to Paredes but three years younger. He could potentially become the ground-eating demon that the Timbers need to partner David Ayala.
But my favorite aspect of a potential Larraz acquisition would be the price. Last year he made $125K in base salary ($130K guaranteed compensation). There’s a world where he signs for a price between the $300-400K range. I think getting this caliber of player at that price is an absolute no-brainer. For reference, Paredes’ 2025 salary was $610K. Portland should be at the front of the line when it comes to suitors.
Hassani Dotson (USA, CM/DM, Minnesota, Age 28)
2025 stats (MLS): 12 games, 1g/0a
This is the first player on the list that falls into the “due diligence” category. At the beginning of 2025, the former Oregon State Beaver submitted a transfer request. Per various reports, he was looking for a DP-caliber salary. I think that those compensation requests have decreased significantly. On March 22nd against the Galaxy, he tore his meniscus. This is a very serious injury that very few athletes (across multiple sports) have fully recovered from. The recent injury alone is enough to disqualify him from my big board. However, he did play for Oregon State, so it’s at least worth a discussion with his agent. There aren’t enough players on the Timbers with ties to Oregon. It always feels good to root for someone who called Oregon home at one point.
Franco Escobar (ARG, RB/LB, Houston, Age 30)
2025 stats (all competitions): 25 games, 2g/3a
Back in 2018, Escobar scored the goal that officially handed MLS Cup to Atlanta. He equalized against the Timbers back in March. Houston ended up losing that game 3-1, but Escobar played as a right-sided center back tasked with covering the space vacated by a bombarding Griffin Dorsey. I thought it was an interesting role for him, and he played pretty well out-of-position. However, as a fullback, he’s been criminally underrated league-wide for a while now.
Escobar isn’t a fullback in the mold of Juan Mosquera. However, he provides adequate cover on each flank. A serious illness prevented him from featuring in each of the Dynamo’s final six games. The Timbers could really use him as an Eric Miller replacement. If he’s fully healthy, and potentially willing to take a slight paycut from his $550K 2025 base salary, I think the Timbers could be a perfect landing spot.
Diego Fagundez (URU, LW/RW/AM, LA Galaxy, Age 30)
2025 stats (all competitions): 43 games, 7g/3a
The Uruguayan is a perfect Swiss Army knife attacker. He can play in any position across the second line and his FIFTEEN years of MLS experience would be a perfect addition to a Timbers team that could always use more of a veteran presence. Two things about Fagundez really excite me. The first is his on-field leadership credentials. At each of the three clubs he’s played for, he’s been a talisman. The Galaxy’s 2024 MLS Cup triumph would not have been possible without the veteran leadership of Fagundez. His most productive season is still in the past, but that campaign with Austin saw them reach the Western Conference Final. He’s dripping with intangibles.
On the tangible side of things, Fagundez is still a threatening attacker. However, there are a couple of aspects surrounding a potential acquisition that trouble me. I don’t think he’d be a starter in Portland. Would he come to a club that isn’t playing continental soccer and be OK with a reduced role? Would he be OK with (probably) taking a significant paycut from his $1.25M salary? I think this potential acquisition is very unlikely, but it never hurts to do some due diligence.
Justin Haak (USA, CB/DM, NYCFC, Age 24)
2025 stats (all competitions): 43 games, 2g/5a
The New York City youth product has been anointed the "crown jewel" of this free agency class. There is no denying that he’s a very good player. But is he the right type of player for Portland, especially with so many other clubs lining up for his signature?
Shocker: the very good free agent that could help every team would be a major addition for the Timbers. However, I’m not 100% sold on his ability to be an eraser. I think his profile could complement Finn Surman. His positional versatility is also impressive. However, with the host of clubs chasing him, I don’t think that the Timbers have a chance. That shouldn’t stop them from trying, but I think Haak is a little bit out of their range.
Rodrigues (BRA, CB, San Jose, Age 28)
2025 stats (all competitions): 22 games, 1g/1a
But you know what the next-best thing is? Finding another player who can play the same position who has been criminally underrated throughout his MLS tenure.
Two years ago, I was putting Rodrigues in Defender of the Year conversations. The Quakes scraped into the playoffs ahead of the Timbers, and their Brazilian stalwart was a huge reason why. This chart is from the past year, when he was still wildly productive despite not having a clear lock on a starting job. He just turned 28 in October, so he’s very much in his prime. I see a player that can become a long-term partner for Surman. He excels in all facets of the game, and somehow he gets no national recognition. I sense a future Timber. Especially with a base salary of $700K in 2025. He’s in the price range, no doubt. But there is a possibility that he returns to South America.
Final Whistle
One other player deserves a few words. Paul Rothrock is a free agent, and I think his strengths align with what the Timbers need in attack. However, he is a Seattle native, and I don’t see a world where he becomes a Timber. I thoroughly encourage the front office to start a bidding war.
Seven former Timbers are free agents (not counting the members of the 2025 team). I don’t think Aljaz Ivacic or David Bingham will be a Timber again. Neither will Bryan Acosta. I wish the striker room wasn’t so crowded because I’m a Mason Toye fan for life. Julio Cascante makes sense from a positional sense, but not from a salary point-of-view.
I wouldn’t say no to Eryk Williamson. He’s still a popular player within the fanbase and the club. At the right price, I’d give a thumbs-up. Likewise for Bill Tuiloma, his former teammate at Charlotte. The Timbers still struggle on attacking set pieces, and Tuiloma is a set-piece demon.
Several high-profile free agents will undoubtedly be mentioned. Chief among them is Walker Zimmerman. I think he’d cost too much. I also think that Christian Benteke wouldn’t have any interest in joining the Timbers. In order for the Timbers to “win” free agency, they have to find the right players at the right price points. Just because a player is “good” doesn’t make them a proper fit.
Portland’s top targets for free agency should be Espinoza, Larraz, and Rodrigues. All three players fill needs and would make the team better. Escobar is in the second tier, alongside Haak (for realism purposes). The Timbers will not be quiet during free agency. And they absolutely shouldn’t be.
“I make the money, Ned spends it.” Those are the words of Timbers CEO Heather Davis, spoken during an interview at Peninsula Elementary on Tuesday. While the students enjoyed some recreation time on a rainy morning, a hand-painted picture of Michael Jackson stood watch in the school cafeteria while Davis met with reporters. As the Timbers receive an influx of cash, they’re prepared to use it on improvements to the squad. The first step in that process is finding the ways that they can make MLS’ unique roster rules work for them. Free agency is one of the safest places to find new players. With a massive outlay for players in 2025 in the rear-view mirror, the Timbers’ new corporate backer is set to keep the money train rolling. The climb continues.
Author’s note: I have completely glazed over Bank of America’s role in the 2008 financial crisis, but I’m not the right person to tell that story. Having said that, the LA Galaxy are still sponsored by a pyramid scheme. Those two facts aren’t related, but they both have to be mentioned.
