The Colorado Rapids are set to acquire Marco Pappa from the Seattle Sounders, according to Fox Sports. It is likely that Colorado acquired Pappa for financial considerations, but terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Pappa spent the last two seasons with the Sounders, where he scored nine goals in 49 appearances. Pappa began his professional career with the Chicago Fire in 2008 where he spent the better part of four seasons. Chicago arranged a transfer to Dutch Club Heerenveen in 2012, where papa played until joining Seattle in 2014.
Pappa earned $75,000 USD in 2015, according to the MLS Players Union. Seattle declined the option to renew Pappa's contract last week due to a significant increase in salary. Failure to re-sign Pappa established that the club was looking to move the Guatemalan.
Before the MLS re-entry draft was set to take place on Friday, Pappa was pulled from the process, while the Sounders chose to forgo their selection in the draft. Kyle McCarthy suspects that was because there was a deal in the works between the two sides.
Pappa appeared in 161 MLS matches over his career, scoring 35 goals and adding 27 assists. He scored three goals and assisted on six others in 2015.
Pappa was arrested for a DUI and speeding in the downtown Seattle area in July. His blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit while he was driving at 84 mph, according to The Seattle Times. Pappa was forced to undergo screening from the MLS substance abuse doctors and was later suspended. He played his way back into the Sounders' lineup after completing his suspension and scored once in four appearances.
Pappa, 28, is expected to play for the Guatemalan national team in World Cup qualifying next March as they take on the US Men's National Team. Pappa has 10 goals in 37 caps with the Guatemalan national team.
