The transfer window closed when Wednesday came to a close, but MLS teams still have time to sign players unattached to teams.
It appears the Chicago Fire may be set to make another move after trading for defender Christian Dean on the final day before the transfer window closed. ESPN's Herculez Gomez tweeted that the team is set to sign goalkeeper Richard Sanchez.
UPDATE: The move was made official on Friday with the Fire sending a third round pick in the 2018 draft to Portland to move up in the allocation order. The Fire then claimed Sanchez in the allocation process. Sanchez is under contract through 2017 with options for 2018 and 2019.
Sanchez, 23, was born in California before moving to Texas and eventually playing for the well-respected FC Dallas academy. He signed with FCD as a homegrown player in February of 2011. Five months later he was the starting goalkeeper for the Under-17 Mexican team that won the U-17 World Cup in Mexico.
He did not make any appearances for Dallas and played on loan with the NASL Ft. Lauderdale Strikers in 2013. Sanchez moved to Mexican powerhouse Tigres in 2014, but didn't play for them either. His only appearances in Mexico came while on loan to second-tier team Tampico Madero.
At 23 and given his youth national team pedigree for Mexico it's reasonable to think there is some upside with Sanchez. However, his lack of professional playing time makes it uncertain what his role will be with the team. Gomez believes Sanchez could compete for the starting job.
The Fire's starting goalkeeper to start the season, Jorge Bava, had surgery on his elbow earlier this week and is out for the rest of the season. Matt Lampson has been the regular starting goalkeeper since May. Rookie Stefan Cleveland has been the backup since Bava got hurt.
Fire general manager Nelson Rodriguez said the team would look for a goalkeeper as a result of Bava's injury. It seems he found his guy, but Sanchez is more likely to be a potential long-term option than someone who could challenge for the starting job this season.