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Portland, Ore. • The offseason wish list was lengthy, yet necessary. Atop it sat the need for an infusion at the attacking midfield position, which Real Salt Lake was able to secure when it signed Slovakian Albert Rusnák as a Designated Player in early January.
Not far below that was finding established depth. Lots of it. Proven commodities. The types of players who had done it, started, delivered goals and play-making ability RSL missed on its roster in recent years. The club's seven-year postseason appearance streak was not only bred by the stars, but by players who knew the league and could thrive in certain roles.
So out went general manager Craig Waibel to bolster the roster. He found a one-time RSL draft pick, a former RSL midfielder and a self-proclaimed journeyman striker to build around the already-established names in Utah.
RSL finalized the free agent signings of forward Chad Barrett and center back David Horst two weeks ago and also brought back versatile attacker Luis Silva, who spent the last year with the best team in Mexico, Tigres UANL.
"They understand how to fit in," Waibel said about the trio. "They understand that the expectation is to get what they earn. They're not the guys that walk in and demand crazy things."
What they have done is adapted into the squad a couple of weeks into the 2017 preseason. Barrett, 31, is on his seventh MLS club, a move he chose to make because of the franchise's history of being MLS Cup postseason regulars.
After a disappointing year with the San Jose Earthquakes in 2016, Barrett believes his role as RSL's primary backup striker can replicate what he accomplished with the Seattle Sounders in 2013 and 2014, when he scored 12 goals playing behind the likes of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins. He thinks playing behind Yura Movsisyan could be similar.
"Playing with big players draws the attention away from me and allows me to get into the spaces I like to get into," said Barrett, who has 67 career goals in 304 career appearances. "I'm under no impression that I'm going to be playing over Yura at any point. He's a great player. He's a DP. He's the goal-scorer."
Horst, who started 83 matches over the past three years in Houston, joins an established group of center backs in Justen Glad, Aaron Maund and Chris Schuler. The one-time RSL draft pick from 2008 picked the club for reasons similar to Barrett.
"They want to be successful and they have been successful," Horst said. "It's just something I haven't gotten the last few years. There's been a lot of turnover in Houston with players, coaches, so to be able to come into a situation like that, it really appealed to me."
Silva, originally acquired by RSL from D.C. United in July 2015, returns after a year with the star-studded Liga MX champs. The 28-year-old spent only four months at RSL before signing with Tigres, an opportunity he said he couldn't turn down. The appearances were slim, however. Silva made two appearances with Tigres, constantly battling to make the 18-man game-day roster.
"It was really frustrating," he said. "Mentally, I think I'm a lot stronger that way because I went through a lot not playing. Obviously a player's happiness is to play, to be out there on the field and do what they love."
Back with RSL, Silva believes he'll get back to the level he showed at D.C. United. He had a breakout year of 11 goals and four assists in 2014. Injuries hampered building upon that season. Now three years later, he'll be counted upon to push for a starting role and provide the kind of attacking depth RSL has lacked.
"I want to score goals, I want to assist — anything the team needs me," he said, "I think I'm willing to do."
RSL coach Jeff Cassar said these offseason signings have created a heightened sense of competition within the team this preseason. The coach said RSL needs Barrett and Silva to be in the 5-to-8 goal production range in 2017.
And Barrett gets it. Role players, he said, are just as crucial as a team's starters when it comes to a sprint toward a successful regular season — and hopefully — another postseason berth.
"Every team that wants to go for the MLS Cup," he said, "needs players like that."
Twitter: @chriskamrani Chad Barrett
Age • 31
Position • Forward
Hometown • Beaverton, Ore.
Statistics • 67 goals, 38 assists in 304 career appearances
Acquired • Signed as a free agent on Jan. 26, 2017
David Horst
Age • 31
Position • Center back
Hometown • Pine Grove, Pa.
Statistics • 118 career starts in 10 MLS seasons with RSL, Portland, Houston
Acquired • Signed as a free agent on Jan. 26, 2017
Luis Silva
Age • 28
Position • Forward/midfielder
Hometown • Los Angeles
Statistics • 24 goals, 17 assists in six MLS seasons, spent 2016 with Tigres UANL in Mexico
Acquired • Signed multiyear contract on Jan. 27, 2017