The young Rapids are getting younger.
The Colorado Rapids transferred winger Omir Fernández to the Portland Timbers on Friday afternoon. In the deal, which comes just a week before the primary transfer window closes on April 23, the club received $200,000 in General Allocation Money (GAM) and will receive up to $50,000 in performance-based add-ons.
In 41 appearances over a season and a quarter in Colorado, Fernández notched two goals and five assists, which wasn’t a ton of production for an otherwise high-caliber Rapids offense.
He joined the club as a free agent not long after coach Chris Armas took over prior to the 2024 season. When Armas coached the New York Red Bulls, Fernández was developed into an important player as the two built a strong personal connection.
Fernández never found a big, consistent role with the Rapids. He started 19 games last season but never started more than three games in a row. This season, he’s off to a nice start with two assists, but has had to come off the bench in all eight games he’s played.
The fight for starting minutes grew this offseason with the retention of Calvin Harris and the signing of U23 winger Ted Ku-DiPietro from D.C. United. It was pushed even further with second-year winger Kimani Stewart-Baynes breaking out for Rapids 2 and another winger signing in Orange County SC’s Bryce Jamison.
Ultimately, the competition and the club’s push for youth made Fernández, 26, the odd man out.
It has certainly been tight as of late, especially after perennial starter Kévin Cabral went on a career-worst stretch of play. But the club is putting more value on youth and upside for this squad — Ku-DiPietro recently turned 23, Stewart-Baynes is 20 and Jamison is 19.
With the roster slot and extra GAM, the Rapids could pursue a signing before the transfer window closes or better prepare for the summer window, though waiting seems a lot more likely.
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