With a trade window and free agency opening this week, the Colorado Rapids wasted no time getting back to business on Monday.
The Rapids executed a trade that sent defender Andrew Gutman to his hometown team, the Chicago Fire, in exchange for Venezuelan international Miguel Navarro and $450,000 in General Allocation Money, league sources confirmed.
Gutman, 27, arrived in Commerce City this past summer from Atlanta United and established himself as a rock-solid defender in a position of need. After the season, Colorado exercised his option but did not sign him to a new contract before the trade. The deal was first reported by Men in Red, a Chicago Fire blog, that Gutman will sign a new deal with the Fire through the 2026 season.
The Rapids continued the trend of staying young, with Navarro set to turn 25 in February. Navarro will not occupy an international roster spot because of a green card he received in March 2021. Colorado will take on his contract — a deal that runs through the end of the 2024 season with a one-year team option for 2025.
Since arriving in Chicago ahead of the 2020 season, the Venezuelan made 97 regular-season appearances and started 81 times with over 7,000 minutes played and eight assists, four of which came in 2023. Known for his speed going north-south, he could be a key cog in new head coach Chris Armas’ preferred style of play.
According to the MLS Players Association salary guide data, Navarro had a guaranteed salary of $299,004 last season. Gutman was guaranteed $381,250 in the final year of his previous deal.
Across his international career, Navarro has been called in for Colombia’s CONMEBOL FIFA World Cup qualifying roster in three straight windows and has eight appearances across all competitions.
With a busy week in front of them ahead of the MLS SuperDraft on Dec. 19 — Colorado has two of the first five picks — it’s expected the Rapids will remain aggressive in revamping the roster.
Want more sports news? Sign up for the Sports Omelette to get all our analysis on Denver’s teams.
