He's Back: Rothrock and Sounders Come to Unlikely Agreement; Ballard Stalwarts Join Club
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Seattle Sounders wing Paul Rothrock looks to the crowd after scoring in the Leagues Cup Final against Inter Miami on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. (Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC Communications) [/caption]
The Seattle Sounders were miles apart with their hometown hero on an extension.
Paul Rothrock, fresh off a year in which he cemented himself as one of the highest work-rate players in MLS, fresh off a year in which the 26-year-old Seattle native scored in the Leagues Cup Final, looked to be lost to free agency.
After playing for a measly $104,000 in 2025, Rothrock's camp was pursuing north of $800,000 on his new deal (per Niko Moreno of Sounder at Heart) — a number that was clearly high for Sounders GM Craig Waibel as the two sides all but ceased conversation.
Per Moreno, Rothrock got deep in discussions with San Jose as free agency opened in December, lengthening the odds that he'd rep the Rave Green in 2026.
Just when things looked their worst, Rothrock came back to the table with Seattle and struck the iron while it was hot for a new multi-year deal. While the figures, including years and club/player options aren't exact, Moreno believes the per-year value of the deal to fall well below that $800,000 mark, likely landing in the $600,000-$700,000 range. From all appearances, Rothrock tested the market and came back to his hometown team when he couldn’t get the number that many considered to be too steep.
With Seattle's depth on the wings failing thanks to Ryan Kent walking and designated player Pedro de la Vega not expected back from his fractured patella until late April, this move comes as a welcome — and needed — surprise.
While he found a niche on the left wing midway through 2025, Rothrock showed versatility in playing either side as de la Vega cemented his role on the left. With a developing Georgi Minoungou and an experienced Paul Arriola coming off a torn ACL, Rothrock will provide some stability and familiarity on the wing while de la Vega rehabs — he scored four goals and dished out five assists in MLS play last season.
With all this in mind, the deal isn't completely official yet, as Rothrock and Waibel are yet to reveal how this unlikely reunion came to be. Regardless of how it went down, fans can say their new favorite saying once again in 2026: “We have Paul Rothrock.”
Sounders Add Experienced Depth with PNW Ties
João Paulo's departure and Danny Leyva's transfer left much to be desired in terms of midfield depth for Seattle. Behind the superstar duo of USMNT prospect Cristian Roldan and a European target in young Obed Vargas, the departed tandem of João Paulo and Leyva was an equally connected pairing well-suited for the double-pivot system.
Waibel didn't wait long to shore up the depth, bringing in Federal Way native and Minnesota United midfielder Hassani Dotson in on a three-year deal, with a club option in the third year.
Dotson, a seven-year MLS veteran with the Loons, made 120 starts in 149 appearances with the club. His minutes fell from well over 2,000 in 2024 to just over 400 in five starts in 2025 as he dealt with a torn right meniscus that required surgery in March. Still, the Sounders pulled the trigger on the local man.
"(Dotson's) versatility, competitiveness and willingness to do the hard work make him an ideal fit for our group," Waibel said in a team statement.
Dotson is up to 17 goals and 10 assists in his career and provides Brian Schmetzer with a solid piece with consistent starting experience to lean on.
"He's a smart soccer player," Schmetzer said of the 28-year-old Dotson in a statement. "He can come in, do his job for this team and give us reliability in the middle of the field."
In the backline, Seattle acquired another player with Pacific Northwest ties in 27-year-old defender Ryan Sailor. Sailor, an Inter Miami man, played just 95 minutes with the MLS Cup-winning club in 2025, as the University of Washington product's most productive season was his rookie year in 2022, when he played 22 games.
Sailor, a former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year and center back traditionally, is likely a depth piece at this point. Seattle has plenty of experience in Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Kim Kee-hee and Cody Baker to lean on at the position.
The Sounders also shored up the goalkeeper depth, signing 21-year-old Max Anchor. His first-team experience is limited, as he notched one start for Vancouver in 2022 and nine for Pacific FC of the Canadian Premier League in 2025.
With Stefan Frei and Andrew Thomas duking it out for the starting role this winter, Anchor will look to provide backup services as the young keeper has plenty to learn.
Seattle Skips Over to Ballard for SuperDraft Needs
The eventful week rolled on with Thursday's MLS SuperDraft.
Seattle didn't have any high selections, so when their second-round pick rolled around at No. 51, they went to the reigning NCAA champs from Montlake, selecting University of Washington midfielder Joe Dale. Waibel and company went on to draft Utah Tech keeper Stockton Short at No. 81, as Seattle continues to load young prospects in the net.
The connection between Dale and Short? Both played for local USL2 powerhouse Ballard FC most recently.
Dale scored six goals in 19 appearances for the semi-professional side and had a goal for UW in the National Championship game against North Carolina State. It can’t be denied; the Sounders continue to follow Schmetzer's slogan of "Pacific Northwest Grit" in every phase as the offseason wears on.
Roster Outlook
Seattle needed plenty of bodies at the start of the week to fill out the 30-player roster limit. Here’s how the 28-man roster is looking after the flurry of additions this week:
Bold indicates new addition/re-signing during the week. Teal setting indicates a designated player (DP) slot.
While Rothrock’s signing was the only move worthy of national attention, Dotson’s addition provides Seattle with a useful pairing for young Snyder Brunell when the team inevitably needs to rotate its star midfielders in 2026.
The off-season is far from over, but Seattle has itself a real roster in mid-December.
